The BBC report that talks yesterday between Royal Mail management and the CWU, aimed at averting a national postal strike, have ended in stalemate. RM have said they are unable to improve on their current 2.5% pay offer. Both sides are stating they’re willing to keep talking, but with no one bringing anything new to the table, that looks like so many empty words to businesses who, til now, have been reliant on Royal Mail.
As I’ve said before, I have no doubt that – in the event of a protracted strike – Royal Mail’s competitors would take full advantage and would start to offer many replacement services. Hellmail note DX Postal Services’ proactive approach: their website isn’t exactly subtle in its offering of strike coverage.
In the meantime, the CWU have still not announced anything definite. By law they must give Royal Mail a week’s notice of any stoppages, and currently the talk is of one day walkouts, so this is the time, not to panic, but to take a look at alternative delivery services.
