Tag: Postcom

After two days of strikes, up to 100 million letters and parcels are estimated to be stacked up in sorting officers around the country as the worst stoppage for two decades paralyzed Britain’s postal system.

The five-day dispute will cost Royal Mail more than GBP 100 million by the time it ends on Wednesday. Despite more talks about pay, pensions and job cuts at the Trades Union Congress, both sides were far from agreement last night.

The Royal Mail claimed that 50 per cent more people were at work compared with previous strikes in the summer, although this was disputed by the Communications Workers Union (CWU), which said the action was “solid”.

Up to 130,000 postal workers walked out at noon on Thursday for 48 hours and will stage another two-day walkout from 3am on Monday, which will hit deliveries until the end of next week.

The postal strike in numbers:

400 million – Backlog of letters which will build up if strike lasts for five days.

GBP 10 million – Estimated cost of strike to small businesses in lost business and delayed postal payments.

135,000 – Postal workers on strike, out of a total of 180,000.

33,000 – Post Office bicycles standing idle while their riders are on strike.

GBP 790,000 – Oay packet of Royal Mail Group chief executive Adam Crozier in 2005.

8 – Miles travelled every day by postal workers, carrying around heavy mailbags.

5.6p – Loss to Royal Mail every time a stamped letter is sent. The firm loses some £4 million a week.

GBP 4 billion – Royal Mail Group pension scheme accounting deficit.

113,000 – Post boxes in the UK.

40,000 – Jobs the Communication Workers’ Union claims will be lost under the terms of the current pay offer.

27 million – Postal addresses in the UK.

11kg – The weight limit on a postal worker’s pack.