Royal Mail claims progress in efficiency
As thousands of addresses all over the UK suffer another week of postal strikes, the Royal Mail says its modernisation plans will soon be ‘successfully completed’
In a statement released yesterday (28 September 2009) Royal Mail’s managing director, Mark Higson, said: ‘In the first week of October, Royal Mail will have successfully completed the major efficiency changes planned for 2009, both nationally and in London.
‘This level of change is higher than has been implemented in any previous year and has been essential as a response to the accelerating decline in the number of letters.’
The efficiency changes, which include the introduction of flexible working, new automated sorting equipment and handheld tracking devices, have been met with a hostile reaction from postal workers resulting in widespread strikes.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said: ‘The scale of change planned by Royal Mail is frightening and unprecedented. The postal industry, along with the workplaces and jobs of our members, could be unrecognisable.
‘The Royal Mail is rolling out these changes with little or no concern for the views or interests of our members. Worse still, we have seen an alarming rise in bullying and harassment cases with managers using the flimsiest of reasons to sack postal workers with long service.’
In his statement, Royal Mail’s managing director labelled the CWU strikes as unjustified and called for them to stop. He said: ‘As always, the company will be focusing on delivering excellent customer service over the vitally important run-up to Christmas when letter numbers reach their seasonal peak.
‘We invite the CWU to re-engage with our agreed industrial relations framework at national and local level. We again urge the union leadership to continue talks with us about building a strong future for our business as we build on these changes and further modernise and improve efficiency through 2010 and beyond.’
Paul Simpson, CQI technical manager, said: ‘Such a difference of opinion of the way forward between management and unions is a sad indictment of Royal Mail’s engagement with employees. Until this is resolved it is quality of service and, ultimately, the customer who suffers.’