Tag: Europe

Unions claim Royal Mail wants to scrap some collection days

Posted by | May 18, 2007 | |

Royal Mail wants to scrap all Sunday and Bank Holiday collections, York postal union leaders have claimed.

The Communication Workers Union says the proposal is part of a nationwide move to cut weekend working and reduce overtime payments.

The claims are made in a newsletter issued to York posties by the union’s North East Division. The document was passed to The Press yesterday, within hours of the paper reporting that postal staff across the country are to be balloted for possible strike action over pay.

The letter suggests Royal Mail aims to deliver only first class mail on Saturdays, with second class mail moving to Mondays.

“Royal Mail will introduce this by July 2. They are also in discussions with both Postcomm and Postwatch to cease all Sunday and Bank Holiday collections.”

The newsletter also claims that massive TV screens costing GBP 6,000 are being installed in every delivery office, mail centre and Post Office counter in the country.

It claims that, with 2,000 delivery offices, about 450 Post Office counters and 78 mail centres which have had more than one screen installed, the cost has come to about GBP 15 million.

The newsletter states: “And they say they can’t afford to give us a pay rise!”

It says Royal Mail chiefs will probably use the screens to plead with staff to vote no to industrial action, and the union is asking members to “turn your back” on the screens.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said that under its licence, it was obliged to deliver and collect six days a week.

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Postcomm reviews current licensing rules

Posted by | May 18, 2007 | |

Postcomm, the independent regulator for postal services, is seeking views on the current licensing regime to ensure that it continues to support the development of the UK postal market.

Four years after the market was first opened to competition the current licensing regime has seen 18 new entrants to the market. Confidence in the market has been maintained as mail operators have broadly achieved high standards of service quality and customer focus. However, Postcomm have been sensitive to suggestions that the current licensing arrangements could do more to facilitate market entry for some small and medium sized potential mail operators – and therefore promote the development of choice and innovation for mail users.

Accordingly, the regulator has launched a consultation on proposals to move to a form of less prescriptive licensing for those seeking to enter the postal services market.
– Removing the annual fee – currently GBP 1,000 – for all licensees with a turnover of less than GBP 10 million (licensees with a turnover of more than GBP 10 million pay an annual fee based on its size);
– Reducing the current application fee to GBP 50 for all applicants;
– Removing the requirement for applicants to provide, as part of the application process, information on exactly how they would comply with Postcomm’s mandatory mail integrity code; and
– Removing the requirement for both existing licensees and future applicants to provide a financial guarantee.

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Correos process nearly 600,000 applications by post

Posted by | May 18, 2007 | |

Until yesterday, the 17th, Correos had accepted more than 600,000 applications from citizens who want to exercise their right to vote by post in the Regional and Local Elections and other electoral processes that will be held on Sunday 27 May 2007. Up to 17 May, Correos had delivered 547,818 applications to the Provincial Offices of the Electoral Register.

The aforementioned amount of applications received will be increased further by those made today, the 18th, in the municipalities where the deadline for requesting a postal vote has been extended by one day, as yesterday was a public holiday (Region of Galicia and certain Spanish municipalities).

Following verification of the applicants’ registration on the electoral roll, the Provincial Offices of the Electoral Register send the electoral documentation to the address indicated by the voter on the application, by urgent registered post.

Correos distributes this documentation and is responsible for its delivery, in hand, to the addressee, who has until Wednesday, 23 May to deposit the envelope with his or her vote at one of the national entity’s more than 10,000 admission points throughout Spain.

Correos’ collaboration in the Regional and Local Elections and other electoral process also extends to delivering the cards showing registration on the electoral roll and delivering electoral propaganda.

In the last few weeks, Correos has delivered 34,095,330 voting cards sent by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (The Spanish Statistics Institute) to the homes of citizens with the right to vote on the 27 May next. The voting cards contain information regarding registration on the electoral roll, as well as the corresponding polling station or desk.

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Securing sustainability of the network is now the issue

Posted by | May 17, 2007 | |

Postcomm, the independent regulator for postal services, has commented on the Governments long-term plans to safeguard the future of a viable and sustainable Post Office network.

Postcomm Chairman Nigel Stapleton said:

Steps to secure the long-term sustainability of the Post Office network must now be the priority. The Governments timetable for closures is ambitious and it is vital that, at the same time, Post Offices are being given the right range of services and products to give them a long term future. In order for it to survive, the Post Office network needs a clear vision, well trained and motivated people and associated set of commercial products and services.

Postcomms statutory role requires it to monitor developments in the Post Office network and provide advice to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, but it is not its role to make decisions on the future of either the network as a whole, or of any individual Post Office.

Postcomm aims to make sure that:

* Royal Mail provides universal access to postal services;
* the government has clear advice about developments in the Post Office network and its role;
* attention is focused not on Post Office numbers, but on making sure customers have sufficient access to Post Office services to meet their current and future needs; and
* the provision of Post Office services takes account of the needs of vulnerable groups and those living in isolated and deprived areas.

Postcomm issued a report, entitled Post Offices at the crossroads, in October 2006, which is available on the Postcomm website (www.psc.gov.uk).

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Post Office broadband service to be launched under deal with BT

Posted by | May 17, 2007 | |

The Post Office will launch a broadband service later this year under a strategic partnership with BT Wholesale, it was announced today.

The agreement marks a key step in the Post Office’s drive to expand its range of services and products to generate new revenues to support the branch network by helping replace lost income from a decline in its traditional business.

“The agreement provides the platform to enhance the Post Office’s existing HomePhone service while offering customers some of the best deals in the market for both voice and internet broadband services.”

Under the four-year deal, BT Wholesale will provide an integrated range of telephony and broadband services.

It builds further on the Post Office’s growing range of new services and products, including car and home insurance, Instant Saver accounts, the Post Office credit card and personal loans, as well as increasing sales of foreign currency and travel insurance.

The first benefits from the agreement will be unveiled next month when Post Office HomePhone launches a new price and service package that will strengthen further its existing competitive offering. HomePhone has already won 400,000 customers with the lowest line rental prices of any major provider if payment is by direct debit, along with itemised billing, and discounts against favourite numbers.

Work is already underway by the Post Office to launch a broadband service in the autumn that will compete head to head with the major players in the market.

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