Arcep: Postal Activities Statistics 2006
Arcep: Postal Activities Statistics 2006 (In French)
Read MoreTag: Europe
Royal Mail accused of post office closures
Royal Mail is planning to create a network of part-time post offices across rural Scotland, leading campaigners to suspect it is plotting a new wave of closures by stealth.
The company, which has already announced swingeing cuts in its counter business, has signalled 500 UK post offices could be replaced by part-time or even mobile “outreach” services.
The reforms could see dozens of post offices downgraded in some of Scotland’s most remote and vulnerable communities.
This would be in addition to 44 branches in Greater Glasgow, Central Scotland and Argyll and Bute, which were earmarked for closure in the first Area Plan Proposals published for Scotland. Three rural villages in the Stirling area – Thornhill, Gargunnock and Buchlyvie – have already been warned of proposals to close their branches and offer alternative facilities during restricted hours.
A consultation period on the changes to the three branches is due to end next month. However, five other Area Plan Proposals have still to be published for Scotland.
Read MoreFrench postal and telecom staff to join strike
French postal and telecoms unions said on Sunday they would join a planned public sector protest on Tuesday as a transport strike headed into a fifth day amid a warning the action could start to hit factory output.
The railway unions, who are protesting at planned pension reforms, are due to announce their next steps late on Sunday.
Despite a tentative offer of talks from SNCF and the government, the rail strike is expected to continue until Tuesday, when civil servants and teachers are due to march in cities across the country in their own protest over pay and conditions.
The CFTC union representing staff at La Poste and France Telecom said on Sunday it would join Tuesday’s day of action, as has one union at airline Air France.
An opinion poll for Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday found most French people believe President Nicolas Sarkozy was best placed to tackle the strike, but the majority was slim.
Another poll for Journal du Dimanche found political support for the president down to 55 percent, a drop of four points in the month and his lowest score since being elected in May.
Union leaders are in a dilemma too, because their members have so far signalled little willingness to negotiate.
The rail unions oppose plans to scrap special pension privileges that allow some 500,000 public sector workers to retire on full pensions after paying contributions for only 37-1/2 years, instead of 40 years for other workers.
Read MorePost Office (UK) cuts mortgage rate
The Post Office announced it has cut its three year fixed rate mortgage to 5.64 per cent – making it the best deal of its kind currently available*.
The mortgage carries a fixed arrangement fee of just GBP 399 and can be taken out on up to 95 per cent of a home’s value, giving Post Office customers a market leading deal. In support of the product’s transparency and great value it has been awarded a rare 5* rating from Moneyfacts.
Three year fixed buy-to-let and self-certification mortgages are also currently available at trial branches.
The mortgage trial, launched in September 2007, follows a succession of well-received financial product launches by the Post Office which is now the fastest growing financial services provider in the UK. It has already attracted more than one million customers with its easy to understand and good value products.
A formal evaluation will take place at the end of the mortgage trial, which will inform how the Post Office proceeds with its offering.
Post Office Mortgages are provided in conjunction with Bristol and West, the Bank of Ireland’s lending arm. As a responsible lender, the Post Office applies strict lending criteria and enforces appropriate checks before an offer is made.
Read MoreDouble boost for Palletline central hub team
Palletline plc has once again strengthened the senior management team at its central hub in Erdington, Birmingham, with two key appointments.
Mark Saund is the new Night Hub Operations Manager. Mark will have operational responsibility for all overnight operations at Palletline’s main hub at Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham, through which around 40,000 pallets pass each week.
He joins Palletline from leading national parcels distributor Target Express in Coventry where he has worked for the last six years in a variety of roles, most recently as Operations Manager at the central hub.
Meanwhile Kerrie Evans has taken on the new role of Network Services Manager. Kerrie’s role involves supporting all of Palletline’s 67 members nationwide, acting as liaison between the hub and the members and ensuring that the network meets their needs.
Having spent 15 years as UK Sales Manager for David Wilson Homes, Kerrie then moved into the road transport sector, holding key network development posts with two other national pallet distribution networks. Most recently she has been an Account Manager for the Home Delivery Network, working with major customers including Marks & Spencer and Toys R Us.
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