Postcomm today confirmed a financial penalty of GBP271,000 on Royal Mail. The penalty follows Royal Mail’s contravention of its licence in 2004-05 in relation to poor performance in the following London postcode areas: SE (intra and posted), E (intra) and WC (posted). The penalty is due to be paid on 14 June. Before confirming the penalty, Postcomm took account of representations from Royal Mail and other parties.
Read MoreAlan Cook, the newly appointed boss of the Post Office, has been touring Britain meeting the nation’s sub- postmasters and mistresses. In Wilstone, Hertfordshire, almost the entire 320-strong village population turned out to meet Cook, who joined the Post Office seven weeks ago. “They knew we were coming,” he said. If the former “man from the Pru” had any doubts about the importance of his new job, the reception from the Wilstone villagers left him with no doubts. Cook is the man charged with securing the future for the country’s 14,500 post offices. It is a tough task: not only is the network losing about Pounds 100m a year, but its position as the government’s cashier -doling out cash to pensioners, mothers and the unemployed -is being eroded as benefits are paid directly into bank accounts. If Cook is to save the nation’s post offices, he has to find a new role for all the sub-postmasters and mistresses across the country.
Read MoreBusiness owners in central Edinburgh are to meet postal chiefs over a series of late mail deliveries they claim are hampering their companies. The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has arranged a meeting between representatives of the postal service and its members, many of whom have been receiving mail up to 1.5 hours late for more than a fortnight. The Royal Mail has confirmed that businesses in EH2 and EH4 – which includes Princes Street and large portions of the New Town – have been receiving mail as late as 11am due to a reorganisation of shifts at an Edinburgh sorting office. While the Royal Mail guarantees all deliveries by noon, it makes a special commitment to deliver post to “recognised business areas” by 9:30 am. Businesses say that early delivery time is crucial in maintaining competitiveness in a fast-moving marketplace.
The meeting comes after repeated criticism of Edinburgh’s postal service and in the wake of a report by consumer watchgroup Postwatch that found nearly a tenth of letters to the capital do not arrive on time.
The Communication Workers Union received an offer last night on the Royal Mail 2006 pay review. This was the first open offer and was also described as the final offer. The offer consisted of a 2.9% increase in basic pensionable pay flowing through to weekday overtime rates only. The increase would not apply to other overtime or to allowances. The offer also includes a form of words that set out parameters for further negotiations. These negotiations cover the bigger issues regarding the future of Royal Mail. The Union’s postal executive is considering this offer today and further information will follow.
Read MoreAlmost a third of London’s post offices have closed in the past three years, figures show today. There were more than 1,200 in the financial year 20012 but three years later there were only 867 – a loss 28 per cent. Today, campaigners said local communities were being hit hard by the loss of their local services and called on the Government to intervene. Lynne Featherstone MP, London spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats, said: “The future for London post offices looks gloomy. It is time the Government realises the seriousness of this problem. It needs to come up with concrete plans to provide for the long-term future of Royal Mail.”
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