Tag: Royal Mail

Postal Strikes: a week of disruption

Posted by | Oct 3, 2007 | |

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has announced further industrial action in the form of two 48 hour stoppages to be followed by further, as yet unspecified, strikes. The first strike is due to start at noon tomorrow – 4th October and go through to lunchtime on Saturday. The second strike will start at 3am on Monday (8th October) and end early on 10th October.

Millie Banerjee, Chair of Postwatch, commenting on the announcement said: “It is hugely disappointing to watch a great British institution tear itself apart. Effectively these strikes mean that mail posted in the UK today is unlikely to be delivered before Thursday next week.

“Ordinary customers cannot post with any confidence of knowing when it will arrive and may therefore decide to telephone, text or e-mail instead. Those businesses who can will also find alternative ways of communicating with suppliers and customers. Customers are being forced to explore other ways of communicating and will not all return to use post once the dispute is resolved.

“We recognize the management of Royal Mail and the leadership of the Communications Workers Union has tried to find a solution. They negotiated unsuccessfully for 5 weeks before these latest strikes were announced. But that failure has to be put behind them and the two sides have to re-engage to find the right solution that will offer customers a value for money postal service.”

“Postwatch advises customers to be aware of the strikes, consider what postal disruption will mean to them, and then act to minimize inconvenience. That might mean using other communication methods.”

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UPS names new District Executive

Posted by | Oct 3, 2007 | |

Mark Dorazio, a 20-year veteran of UPS, has accepted a position as Director of Sales for the UPS North Ohio District. In his new role, Dorazio will direct all sales and marketing activities in the northern-most portion of Ohio with a population of more than 4 million.

Dorazio, who will be based in Cleveland, most recently served as senior marketing analyst in UPS’s Northeast Region, covering deliveries throughout New York City. He began his UPS career in 1987 working part-time in customer service and later became a delivery driver. He then moved through a series of jobs with increasing responsibility in sales and marketing.

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Public survey on axed Post Offices in the UK

Posted by | Oct 2, 2007 | |

Public consultations are starting on plans to close up to 2,500 post offices over the next year.
Customers in Kent, East Midlands and East Yorkshire will be asked for their views on proposals to close 180 branches in their areas.
Consumer watchdog Postwatch said it is the start of a period of “huge change” in the post office network.
Chairwoman Millie Banerjee said: “Closures are not good news for customers, but the current post office network is unsustainable. The Government has decided change is necessary, with 2,500 closures required.
“Postwatch agrees it is preferable to have planned rather than unplanned closures. It is now vital that the programme’s overall outcome is the best possible for customers.
“That means customer confusion and inconvenience must be minimised, both in terms of the branches proposed for closure, and in the consultation process being meaningful and accessible to all.”
Post Office Managing Director, Alan Cook, said, “Taking the decision to close any Post Office branch is always very difficult and we know will cause concern to many of our customers.
“We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the changes we are proposing to meet Government requirements and able to give views on how accessible services will be in the future.
A spokesman for the Department of Business and Enterprise said decisions on which post offices will close will be made by Post Office Ltd in the light of the responses to the area consultations.
“Post offices continue to play an important social and economic role in the communities they serve, but four million fewer people are using the post office each week than two years ago and Post Office losses rose from GBP 2 million a week in 2005 to GBP 4 million a week last year.”

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Start of consultations on post office closures

Posted by | Oct 2, 2007 | |

Today is the starting day for the first public consultations on post office closures. The Government has charged Post Office Ltd with closing up to 2,500 post offices throughout the UK (500 of which will be replaced by ‘outreach’ services).

Kent, East Midlands, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire are the first affected areas, with 180 proposed closures and a further 35 existing branches proposed to be replaced by outreach services. Consultations for these areas finish on 12 November. Postwatch will be active during consultation scrutinising Post Office Ltd’s proposals, and ensuring customers give their comments. Our final views will be available on our website at the end of consultation.

Every part of the UK will be affected by the program, and Postwatch urges customers to find out when local consultation will take place in their area, and to get involved.

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UK Post Office Chairman defends stance

Posted by | Oct 2, 2007 | |

Post Office Chairman Allan Leighton has defended his tough stance over striking postal workers and plans to close up to 2,500 post offices over the next year.

Tough talk from Allan LeightonSpeaking to Sky News’ Jeff Randall on Jeff Randall Live, Mr Leighton said it was all about modernization.

“We’re a business that’s now in a commercial world, we’ve got real competition, we’re not a monopoly any more and we can’t keep going back to the tax payer and asking for money, that’s the one thing we don’t want to do.

“We’re relatively inefficient compared with our competitors… our competition has been doing what we should be doing for 10 years.”

When asked if he was prepared to compromise, Mr Leighton said a deal had to be done in the interests of the company.

“This is about the future of the Royal Mail… it is at a tipping point… the Mail’s business is under intense pressure and we’ve got to build a company for the future.”

Meanwhile, public consultations are starting on plans to close the post offices next year.

Customers in Kent, East Midlands and East Yorkshire will be asked for their views on proposals to close 180 branches in their areas.

It would start a period of “huge change” in the post office network, said consumer watchdog Postwatch.

“Closures are not good news for customers, but the current post office network is unsustainable,” said Chairwoman Millie Banerjee.

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