Britain could be facing its first national postal strike in two years as Royal Mail workers step up industrial action that began in July. Ballot papers were sent out to union members this week. A series of strikes by some 20,000 employees has already left up to 20 million items undelivered in London alone, according to the Communication Workers’ Union.
Staff claim they are being bullied into accepting modernisation plans. But David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, this week urged the government to “get a grip” on the strikes that are damaging businesses “when they can least afford it”.
What the commentators said
Royal Mail needs to change “whether it likes it or not”, said Steve Lawson, editor of Hellmail.co.uk. Post volume is falling at 10% a year, costing it around £700m, thanks to email and the postal market being opened up to competition. The company also has a huge pension deficit; almost all of last year’s £320m in operating profits went on pension costs.
The unions “must take much of the blame for this parlous state of affairs”, said Simon Barnes in the Daily Mail, given their determination to defend outdated perks. These include van drivers getting paid overtime for delivering outside their usual route, even if it is within normal working hours. Meanwhile, shoddy service shows that managers and shop-floor employees alike clearly aren’t interested in the customers. No wonder business customers are fleeing in droves. Royal Mail is “a dinosaur”.