Tag: Europe

New blueprint for UK flagship Post Office branch network

Posted by | Apr 19, 2007 | |

Post Office Ltd set out a new blueprint for a sustainable network of flagship Post Office branches. The company will continue to run 373 Crown Post Offices in UK towns and cities alongside those branches run by private subpostmasters and mistresses and by retail franchise partners. As part of the plan, following a six site trial last year, a further 70 branches are expected to move to nearby WHSmith stores under a new partnership agreement.

The Crown Office network of 373 branches, together with the 76 branches operated by WHSmith, will give Post Office Ltd a high quality flagship network, offering expert knowledge and advice to consumers and small business customers alike. New ways of providing services are already being tested in a number of branches, and will form part of a major, customer driven, refurbishment programme over the next few years.

By the end of Summer 2008 it is expected that 76 Post Office branches will be sited within WHSmith stores. These will be main Post Offices, offering the full range of Post Office services and operated by specially trained professionals – who may include some current Post Office people. All branches will be fully accessible to all customers, with special arrangements in place to assist those customers with special access needs.

The partnership announced builds on the success of six trial locations where Post Office branches have already moved to nearby WHSmith stores. Customers in Ashton under Lyne, Altrincham, Swansea, Shrewsbury, Slough and Hammersmith have given a positive response to both the location and service levels of the new branches – citing shorter queues, speedier service and a more convenient location.

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Royal Mail workers say no to pay offer

Posted by | Apr 19, 2007 | |

The CWU (Communication Workers Union) has rejected Royal Mail’s offer on pay rises for this year.

Royal Mail have flatly refused any wage increase and instead have offered one-off cash sums between GBP 250 and GBP 550 – with conditions attached regarding efficiency savings.

The CWU say the offer is totally unacceptable as it amounts to pay cuts and major change. The Union says it is willing to continue negotiations but is moving to ballot members on industrial action.

Royal Mail have already started a process of changing working hours and converting expired full time posts to part time. Workers are said to be furious at the proposals put to the CWU and it seems likely that unless Royal Mail offer something more acceptable, widespread industrial action could follow.

A recent poll showed that postal workers were resolute in their determination to bring their pay up to the national average and improve working conditions.

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Deutsche Post monopoly may be extended beyond this year

Posted by | Apr 18, 2007 | |

The German government is showing signs of ‘relative openness’ to the possible extension of Deutsche Post World Net AG’s incumbent mail delivery monopoly beyond December, daily Handelsblatt wrote, citing a government representative.

The liberalisation, which was initially planned for Jan 1 2008, may be delayed if Germany cannot convince the other EU member states to open their mail markets as well, the report added.

Deutsche Post’s virtual monopoly on letter delivery for letters up to 50 grams is earmarked to expire at the start of 2008, with the EU seeking a continent-wide liberalisation of the market in 2009.

Thus far, eleven member states are questioning whether they will liberalise their markets even in 2009, the newspaper said.

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Berlin may delay postal reform

Posted by | Apr 18, 2007 | |

The German government may extend the monopoly of Deutsche Post, the postal company, over delivery of letters beyond December 2007 as postal service liberalisation is less advanced in other European Union countries. The Social Democrats, coalition partner of Angela Merkel, chancellor, favour a postponement of the plan to open the market on January 1 2008, as France in particular intends to open its market at a later date. Ms Merkel’s Christian Democrats, traditionally in favour of early reform, have signalled support for the SPD.

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Schwarz named DPD Austria joint Managing Director

Posted by | Apr 18, 2007 | |

Rainer Schwarz has been promoted to joint Managing Director of DPD Austria. He will work together with George Karoh, who has been Managing Director since 2006. Schwarz was most recently a special project manager with DHL express in central Europe.

Schwarz stated that one of his top priorities will be to maintain DPD Austria’s market leader status within in Austria. He explained that with its local and regional operational readiness it was able to achieve swift, punctual deliveries throughout Austria.

Schwarz believes this gives DPD Austria a substantial competitive advantage that he would like to maintain and strengthen in the future.

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