FedEx Corp. and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation today kicked off their annual Trees for Troops program in Columbus, Ohio, with the pickup of 300 trees to be delivered to activated service members and their families stationed overseas.
In the coming weeks, tree growers, retailers and FedEx Corp. will be donating and delivering approximately 20,000 trees to more than 35 bases in the United States and overseas.
Read MoreAustrian Post performed very positively in the first nine months of 2007. Austrian Post increased its total revenues by 31.2 pct, to EUR 1,667.3m. A major contribution to the growth in revenues (about EUR 360m) can be attributed to the initial inclusion of trans-o-flex (Parcel & Logistics Division), which was acquired at the end of 2006. On balance, revenues from the Mail Division were up 3.3 pct during the first three quarters of 2007, and the Parcel & Logistics Division improved by 225.1 pct in the same period. In contrast, the Branch Network Division posted a decline in revenues of 2.5 pct. Austrian Post’s performance in the third quarter basically followed the same pattern. Total Austrian Post revenues improved by 34.4 pct in Q3 2007, to EUR 550.4m. Revenues in the Mail Division increased by 6.1 pct compared to Q3 2006, the Parcel & Logistics Division improved by 234.5 pct, whereas Branch Network Division revenues fell by 1.2 pct.
The structure of the income statement of Austrian Post has changed considerably as a result of the consolidation of trans-o-flex, which features a very flexible cost structure, comparatively low staff costs and a high level of external services used. Accordingly, Austrian Post’s staff costs now only comprise about 50 pct of total revenues (previously more than 60 pct), whereas the share of expenses for raw materials, consumables and services used has climbed to roughly 29 pct of total revenues (previously about 15 pct).
In the first three quarters of 2007, the EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) of Austrian Post increased by 26.2 pct, to EUR 118.3m, in comparison to the preceding year. Accordingly, the EBIT margin amounted to 7.1 pct. In Q3 2007, Austrian Post achieved an EBIT of EUR 33.3m, up from EUR 27.4m in Q3 2006.
Read MoreThe UPU’s Council of Administration (CA) ended its 2007 session on Friday. The CA is the UPU body that approves the UPU’s programme and budget, sets the strategic direction of the worldwide postal sector and looks at policy issues such as universal postal service and the reform of the Union, among others. Among the highlights of this session:
– The draft of the Nairobi Postal Strategy 2009–2012 (four major objectives and 18 programmes) was approved in principle. The strategy is to be officially adopted at the 24th Congress (Nairobi, Kenya – 13 August to 3 September) and will act as a four-year road map for UPU member countries in bringing improvements to the worldwide postal sector
– The draft of the Postal Payment Services Agreement intended to replace the current agreement when it is presented at the Nairobi Congress was approved. The Agreement includes general operating principles and clarifies the role and responsibilities of governments and postal operators that provide postal payment services, including electronic ones
– Quality of service measurement targets were agreed upon for the 29 countries participating in the UPU programme linking quality of service to terminal dues, the payments countries receive for processing incoming international mail
The UPU will hold its next and last sessions of the Postal Operations Council and the Council of Administration before the 24th Congress from 24 January to 1 February 2008 and from 4-8 February 2008 respectively.
Read MoreVARs are feeling the bite of the postal strike as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) warns further strikes could force small companies out of business.
The strike in October is believed to have cost the London economy alone more than GBP 300m after several thousand postal workers took part in the dispute, causing a backlog of 12 million letters and parcels in UK sorting offices.
Simon Briault, representative for the FSB, said: “It is not just about sending a few letters or parcels, it is about the whole economy. Research conducted by the FSB found that 94 per cent of SMEs use Royal Mail exclusively and 89 per cent of them use the company every day.
“SMEs do not really have an alternative to Royal Mail. Due to privatisation, alternative services have cherry picked the larger organisations, for example government bodies, and do not see SMEs as a business opportunity,” added Briault.
He continued, saying that SMEs are under severe pressure and the strike could cause businesses to close due to financial difficulties: “The FSB is trying to raise awareness of the issue and attempting to get Royal Mail to realise the position SMEs now occupy within the economy and the market. If SMEs are not receiving the cheques they need to stay buoyant, then they have to borrow money from banks and pay interest rates.”
Mike Gammie, IT services development manager at online VAR Misco, said: “Many businesses post us cheques – if we do not receive them then we cannot bank them.
“Royal Mail has not done itself any favours. Misco was looking at alternatives to Royal Mail before the strike and we are now opting for these,” added Gammie.
Proposals by Royal Mail to charge business customers higher prices for delivering their post in rural areas must be fought, an MP has warned.
Last night North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said that the prospect of “zonal charging” for business mail – which will see rural and urban areas treated differently – represented “the start of a slippery slope”.
Royal Mail has applied to the postal regulator Postcomm for permission to charge more to business for delivering mail in rural areas to reflect the higher logistical costs.
The proposals are currently being consulted on with a final decision expected next month.
Mr Lamb said: “The implications of this are potentially very serious once we break the principle that you are treated equally wherever you live. It is a very slippery slope.
“The postal service treating all equally is a policy that we have got to fight for.
“Even if this is rejected Postcomm appear to be leaving the door open for Royal Mail to come back again. This issue should be kept in people’s minds and campaigned against.”
Postcomm has already declared it is mindful to reject Royal Mail’s application but has said it is not opposed to the principle of cost reflective pricing – where the price of postage reflects accurately how much it will cost to deliver.
A spokesman for Royal Mail refused to confirm or deny whether the company would apply again if its application is rejected saying the company would await the details of Postcomm’s decision.
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