Tag: Domestic

Postal union set for more strikes

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

The postal workers union has said it will announce further strikes after failing to reach an agreement with the Royal Mail during five days of talks.

Industrial action had been scheduled for last week, but was suspended for last ditch negotiations at the weekend.

According to the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), while progress had been made in some areas, including pay, it was not enough to avert strike action.

CWU members are concerned about pay levels and modernization plans.

The Royal Mail said it was “extremely disappointed” the CWU had continued “to ignore the stark challenges facing the company”.

Since June, the CWU has staged a number of national walkouts in protest at Royal Mail’s offer of a 2.5 pct pay increase and the company’s aggressive modernization plans.

The union claims the shake-up plans will put about 40,000 jobs at risk.

According to the CWU, the Royal Mail has now upped its pay offer to a two-year increase worth 6.7 pct, however the company is sticking to pension proposals rejected by the union – such as increased employee contributions and later retirement age.

But the Royal Mail countered that it had “made it clear” to union officials that their aim was to “protect (our) existing people’s pensions as far as possible and not increase their contributions”.

The CWU also said there has been no final agreement on a number of areas including job security, personnel procedures, automation, productivity and network changes.

Until now, Royal Mail has stood firm against union demands insisting they are unaffordable.

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Postwatch: Meeting of the Counters Advisory Group

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

The Postwatch Counters Advisory Group convened today (Tuesday 11th September) for the fourth time this year. The group comprises a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the future of the post office network and the needs of its customers.

The group’s aim is to promote the views, concerns and interests of all consumers and in particular people with disabilities, the elderly, those on low incomes and people who reside in rural areas.

The session enabled Postwatch and Post Office Ltd to update stakeholders on the plans for public consultation and how customers will be informed of proposals. Members recognized the continuing challenges facing the network and will continue their work on post office issues in the coming year.

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Royal Mail staff stage walk-out

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

Up to 75 Royal Mail employees stopped work at the delivery office in Scotia Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, on Monday.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said the 12 staff had been suspended on full pay over allegations of bullying and harassment.

Deliveries in the area were severely disrupted.

In a statement Royal Mail said it was “disappointed that 75 employees have walked out and commenced unofficial industrial action following the suspensions”.

It said 13 employees continued to work normally.

It said the staff had been suspended while the allegations were “thoroughly investigated”, adding that it had a “zero tolerance attitude to harassment of any kind”.

Jason Holdcroft had been back at work for just two days

Three of the suspended workers protested their innocence, saying they had not been told what the exact allegations were.

Steve Goodison said: “It’s a sad day. Twenty-three years I’ve worked for Royal Mail and I’ve never been disciplined in my life.”

Paul Dawson said he was “in shock” at the “unfounded allegations”.

And Jason Holdcroft, who returned to work this week after several weeks of paternity leave, said: “I’ve done two days and then I’m suspended for bullying and harassment but I don’t actually know who it is I’ve bullied and harassed.”

At a meeting at a nearby pub, the suspended workers urged their colleagues to return to work on Wednesday.

Staff at the same office went on strike in March over a colleague’s sacking.

Nationally, the Communication Workers’ Union has said it has plans for industrial action after failing to reach an agreement with Royal Mail over pay.

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Purolator opens state-of-the-art hub in St-Laurent, Québec

Posted by | Sep 10, 2007 | |

Purolator Courier Ltd., overnight courier company, today announced that its state-of-the-art facility in St. Laurent, Québec, is now open for business. Equipped with the latest package sortation capabilities and scanning technologies to serve the Quebec market, the 160,000 square foot facility is Purolator’s most efficient and technologically advanced hub in Canada.

The new Montréal hub is located on a 37.5 acre site located at 5000 Boulevard de la Côte-Vertu, adjacent to Aéroport International de Montréal Pierre-Elliot-Trudeau. Working with a staff of 350 employees and automated conveyable sorting and scanning technology, the facility has the ability to process 24,000 pieces of conveyable freight per hour as well as provide customized solutions and enhanced service to customers. The hub is designed to accommodate future growth for the next several years.

The opening of the new Montréal hub represents a key milestone in Purolator’s company-wide investment strategy that is introducing new options, new solutions and new capabilities to its customers. Introduced in 2005, Purolator’s transformation includes an increased investment in technology, infrastructure, processes and employees. The roll-out of the transformation is currently underway and will bring new strengths, increased reach and scope of network – making it easier to find distribution solutions that fit customer requirements as well as ensure that it consistently delivers the customer experience that has enabled Purolator to become Canada’s largest courier.

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TNT not planning to cut thousands of jobs

Posted by | Sep 10, 2007 | |

TNT NV said it has no intention of cutting more than the 6,500-7,000 jobs previously announced as part of its cost-cutting program.

TNT spokesman Pieter Schaffels said that media reports claiming TNT may cut thousands of additional jobs do not reflect its intention with regard to its savings plan and upcoming labor talks.

‘We already made it clear in April that we see two scenarios for reaching our target of 300 mln eur in savings,’ spokesman Pieter Schaffels said.

He said TNT still prefers the first scenario, in which job losses are capped at 6,500-7,000 while collective labor agreements are adjusted for additional cost savings. The company has said that in this scenario, it will minimize forced lay-offs.

However, if agreements cannot be reached with unions regarding wages, overtime pay, pension costs and other issues, Schaeffels confirmed that a second scenario could result in up to 11,000 job losses.

‘That is not our preference,’ the spokesman said, adding that it is premature to discuss job losses ahead of key negotiations with unions, noting that ‘to an extent, the ball is in the unions’ court’.

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