Ofcom Consultation on review of Postal Users’ Needs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No: 950/12
Ref: DW/LAS/21100
21st December 2012


TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague

Ofcom Consultation on review of Postal Users’ Needs

All Postal Branches will be aware that Ofcom has recently published substantial research into postal users’ needs from the universal service and undertaken a consultation into its findings. This is in accordance with the Postal Services Act 2011, which requires Ofcom to undertake such a review within 18 months of taking over responsibility for postal regulation.

The purpose of this LTB is to advise branches that the Union has made a detailed submission to the Regulator setting out our concerns. The full submission can be downloaded from the CWU Website:
http://www.cwu.org/assets/_files/docume ... Consul.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The general findings of the user needs study paint a positive picture of attitudes towards the universal postal service, and the work of CWU members. In particular, the study shows that despite changes in the communications sector, post retains a crucial function as part of the national communications infrastructure. It also states that the universal service currently meets users’ needs, and that the postal network provides social and economic benefits beyond its core communications role.

However, Ofcom’s research also considers a series of changes to the universal service and seeks to assess how consumers would respond to these. The changes they have considered include:
More convenient packet and parcel services
Scrapping first and second class and moving to a two-day delivery service
Reducing quality of service targets
Reducing the number of collection and delivery days from six to five
Changing collection and delivery times
Moving away from delivery to the door
Ofcom argues that users would favour a single-tier delivery service, that removing Saturday deliveries would be acceptable if signed-for goods could be collected from delivery offices and that residential users do not place a high value on current collection and delivery times. Users were also found to favour more convenient packet and parcel services, including later delivery office opening times. Users were found to strongly value delivery to the door.

The CWU has serious concerns about a number of aspects of Ofcom’s research, which in some important cases do not support the conclusions drawn. While it is important to note that the regulator has not made any proposals for changes to the universal service at present, we do expect proposals to follow. The consultation is a further indicator of the regulator’s direction of travel and demonstrates a contradiction with their statutory duty to protect the universal service.

We would ask that Branches bring to the attention of our Representatives Ofcom’s consultation and the Unions response. This will assist in emphasising the importance of the CWU campaign against unfair competition and privatisation.

Any enquires on the above LTB should be addressed to the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely


Dave Ward Billy Hayes
Deputy General Secretary (P) General Secretary

[flaminmoses]

is this like the FA "independant" panel who sat in on a recent racial case?