Tag: Europe

Will Postal Strike Knock Poczta Polska Out?

Posted by | Nov 29, 2006 | |

Over 12,000 postmen going on strike spells trouble not only for millions of Poles looking forward to sending Christmas cards to their loved ones; the protest by employees of Poczta Polska has ruined the promotional strategy of a number of companies which rely on the state mail and has generally made life much harder for virtually all of its customers. At the same time, it uncovered the inefficiency of the state-controlled institution. Perhaps the strengthening competition will wake it from its slumber.

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Post office network ‘facing collapse’

Posted by | Nov 28, 2006 | |

Over a quarter of post offices have closed down since 2000 and the entire network faces collapse in the coming years unless the Government addresses fears over declining business and a possible loss of social welfare payments.

That’s according to the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) which claims hundreds of members are earning less than the legal minimum wage, despite remaining open for up to 50 hours every week.

Already this year, 44 outlets have shut their doors for the last time.

There were 1,409 post offices and sub-post offices in the network on January 1, but that figure has dropped to 1,365 just 11 months later. The vast majority are sub-offices, with only 84 full post offices left in the country.

“We’ve argued very strongly, without success, with An Post and the Minister for Communications, that the whole post office network is in serious jeopardy unless somebody takes radical action soon,” IPU general secretary John Kane told the Irish Examiner.

He said dissatisfaction with remuneration is prompting postmasters and postmistresses to leave the service, while concern is also mounting about the future of Government business — such as social welfare payments — which is carried out in post offices.

“We have 35 people earning Euro8,000 a year, which is below the poverty line. There’s 300 or 400 people who are earning less than the legal minimum wage,” Mr Kane said.

The union has suggested part-time offices, opening on certain mornings or afternoons rather than the current five-and-a-half day week, but said that this idea has been ignored.

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Amtrak's Government Mail Partnership Takes Off

Posted by | Nov 28, 2006 | |

Amtrak Express Parcels is set to deliver millions of packages for the government following the launch of a new mail service aimed at the thousands of Government departments and offices around the country.

Government Mail is the result of a partnership between Amtrak and The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA). The new nationwide service gives Government direct access to a network of 100 delivery centres and 2000 vehicles providing next day delivery of documents and parcels.

Government Mail builds on a distribution service first established during the Second World War to carry mail between Government departments. Government Mail offers a true one-stop-shop solution to meet all of the varied collection and delivery requirements of Government and the wider public sector.

Part of the Department for Transport (DfT) Government Mail will be providing next day delivery to destinations nationwide. Through the partnership with Amtrak, Government can now single-source all mail and parcel requirements, reduce costs and improve efficiency.

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New Eurodis Partner in UK and Ireland

Posted by | Nov 28, 2006 | |

A new partner has joined Eurodis, the European distribution network run by trans-o-flex, the combi-freight operator based in Weinheim: Tuffnells Parcels Express has been the exclusive delivery partner for the UK and Ireland since the beginning of November, replacing the previous partner Business Post. trans-o-flex decided to make the switch after a successful test phase: “Tuffnells are an excellent match for us with their great flexibility and range of services. Apart from parcels and pallets, they also carry time-definite and chilled goods and handle pick-up orders and partial deliveries. With Tuffnells as our partner, we can offer our customer-tailored solutions in the UK and Ireland in an ideal way,” says Klaus J. Heinz, trans-o-flex CEO.

For trans-o-flex, this switch in the UK and Ireland is only the latest step in the process of strengthening its international network. In October, Pan Nordic Logistics became the new Eurodis partner for Sweden. Before that, trans-o-flex’ subsidiary in the Netherlands entered the Eurodis network. Last year, the organisation which has been in existence since 1993 established its own management company, Eurodis GmbH. Its main responsibility is to establish and coordinate special trans-o-flex services Europe-wide. Via Eurodis, trans-o-flex guarantees full market presence in Europe and assures the customary rapid and reliable delivery of customers’ goods across European borders.

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Pricing in proportion research

Posted by | Nov 28, 2006 | |

Postwatch today releases research on Pricing in Proportion (PiP), Royal Mail’s new pricing structure.

The key findings are:
• 84 per cent of those interviewed were aware of PiP,
• 87 per cent of vulnerable customers who noticed a difference in the amount they pay (the elderly, rural dwellers and those on low income) believe they are paying more for their post following PiP’s introduction.
• 12 per cent of over 1000 items posted were charged incorrect postage;

Commenting on the research, Millie Banerjee CBE, Chair of Postwatch, said:

“Our research shows that Royal Mail’s huge effort to raise awareness and understanding of PiP has been successful but is potentially being undermined by some post offices failing to advise and charge customers correctly.

“One in every eight customers being incorrectly charged is indefensible and unacceptable. Our results clearly show the need for Royal Mail’s ‘amnesty’ on surcharges to continue until both customers and staff have adapted to the new pricing system. Additional staff training should help address this problem. In the run-up to the busy Christmas period, this should be undertaken immediately.”

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