Tag: Royal Mail

UK: Ding dong merrily online?

Posted by | Dec 19, 2007 | |

It looks like an online Christmas for millions as the traditional Christmas day in front of the TV makes way for the internet, with almost 60 per cent of people saying they will spend time online – that’s according to new research from Post Office® Broadband.

56 per cent of people surveyed stated that they would be spending up to an hour online on Christmas day, with emailing and catching up with the news being the most popular online activities.

But with nearly 40 per cent of respondents predicting that other relatives would also be using the family PC on the same day, over 3.6million people in the UK are anticipating Christmas day “mouse rage” – a new phenomenon affecting families who argue over the use of the household computer. People living in the north-east are most likely to hog the mouse, spending up to four hours online.

65 percent of people in the Midlands intend to spend up to an hour online with 45 per cent planning to go online for between one and two hours. And in East Anglia 61 per cent will use the internet for up to an hour. Central Scotland will see 64 per cent of people using the internet for up to an hour and over half of those in North Scotland plan to do the same.

Most popular online Christmas day activities:

1. Emailing (49 per cent)
2. Catching up with the news (35 per cent)
3. Social networking (29 per cent)
4. Instant messaging (29 per cent)
5. Shopping (19 per cent)

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EU lawmakers approve full mail competition from 2011

Posted by | Dec 18, 2007 | |

A committee of European Union lawmakers on last Tuesday 18th December approved EU plans to open the bloc’s 88 billion euro (USD130 billion) postal markets to full competition, setting the stage for final approval next month.
The European Parliament’s transport committee voted 37 to 2, with six abstentions, in favour of market liberalisation.
EU member states have approved the proposal and it will be debated before the full parliament on Jan. 30, with a vote set for Jan. 31. If it passes unchanged, as expected, the directive will become law.
The market for letters weighing up to 50 grams is currently shielded from competition. Mail above that weight is fully liberalised. The new measure would liberalise all mail delivery.
The new directive takes effect in 13 countries in 2011. The 12 new member states, along with Luxembourg and Greece, have until 2013.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the communist-led GUE/NGL bloc and Green Party members had sought to adopt amendments, including scrapping the measure. They were outvoted on 35 amendments and withdrew another 37.
The measure has sparked protests by postal workers in many EU nations, especially France, who fear job losses.

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BCC: Postal competition necessary for businesses (UK)

Posted by | Dec 18, 2007 | |

Businesses deserve an ‘efficient and cost effective’ postal service and any review of the market must take this into account, it has been claimed.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) made the comments in response to business secretary John Hutton’s announcement of a ‘comprehensive review’ of developments in the postal services market since its liberalisation two years ago.

The review will look at trends in future market developments and the likely impact on Royal Mail, other carriers and consumers.

Hutton said: “We believe that opening the market has brought considerable benefits for users of postal services but there can be no doubt that the market has evolved, with new technologies such as email and text messaging having a huge effect on the way we communicate.”

Responding to news of the review, Natalie Evans, head of policy at the BCC said:

“The business community deserves and depends upon an efficient and cost effective postal service.

“Frustratingly, the recent strike action at Royal Mail had a significant impact on businesses across the country, costing small and medium sized businesses an estimated GBP 2.5m in delayed post every day there was disruption.

Evans said competition in the industry was necessary to ensure business mail got delivered.

She added: “If Royal Mail cannot ensure final mile delivery, then choice must be allowed to flourish within the industry.”

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City postal workers begin strike (UK)

Posted by | Dec 18, 2007 | |

Postal workers in Staffordshire have gone on strike over the suspension of nine colleagues.

The industrial action at the Burslem depot in Stoke-on-Trent affects 32,000 homes and businesses in the ST6 post code and is due to finish on 2 January.

Royal Mail bosses and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) met on Monday in a last-ditch bid to avoid the walk out.

Royal Mail said 200 managers had been drafted in and it was “determined” to deliver the post in time for Christmas.

The dispute dates back to September when 12 members of staff were suspended over allegations of bullying and harassment. Three were later reinstated.

The union said calls for an independent review of the disciplinary action were not met by Royal Mail.

Managers said they were disappointed that strike action had gone ahead.

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Royal Mail review likely to prompt call for split

Posted by | Dec 17, 2007 | |

A wide-ranging review of the effect of competition on Royal Mail is expected to be announced today amid concerns that the group’s ability to provide a core service is being damaged.

However, the review is also likely to trigger strong pressure for a major revamp of Royal Mail, including splitting it in two.

As part of its licence to operate, Royal Mail must provide a universal service, meaning that post can be sent anywhere at a flat rate.

The postal group has asked Postcomm, the industry regulator, to modify this obligation to reflect its costs.

It has been unsuccessful in its request, although it has been allowed a series of stamp price rises.

In the review, rival postal operators, such as TNT and Business Post, are likely to be asked to help to fund Royal Mail’s universal service obligation.

John Grogan, the Labour MP for Selby, who has campaigned to keep full public ownership of Royal Mail, said: “If the private sector companies are strong enough, then I think they should make a contribution to the universal service.

The rival players are likely to resist such moves because they claim that they are disadvantaged by Royal Mail charging too much for them to use its infrastructure and also that Royal Mail is exempt from VAT while they have to charge it.

Instead they are expected to use the Government’s review to demand that Royal Mail’s operations are split up to promote more competition.

They want to see Royal Mail’s letters division, with which they compete, separated from its network operations, which they have to use for the final-mile delivery.

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