Royal Mail hits back at union over service delivery

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.printweek.com/content/news/ ... e-delivery

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Royal Mail has hit back at the Communication Workers Union (CWU) for making “misleading” comments about the state of the business, while acknowledging falling short of targets.

It comes after the union claimed Royal Mail was “on the brink of collapse”, with postal workers reporting heavy workload pressures.

The CWU has called for an emergency summit to address issues affecting the postal service. CWU general secretary, Dave Ward said the union wanted a meeting between stakeholders and the government “to address the ticking timebomb that is Royal Mail”.

Ward highlighted recent BBC reports about concerns from postal workers ahead of the Christmas period as the number of parcels increases.

Royal Mail responded on Friday (16 October) stating that the comments made by CWU leadership, “do not reflect the state of the business, the progress Royal Mail is making in improving service quality or its preparations for Christmas”.

The company reiterated its plans to hire an additional 22,000 seasonal workers for the festive season, which has received over 100,000 applications already, and said customers should not be concerned ahead of the peak period.

While acknowledging that it had not reached Ofcom’s targets, Royal Mail said that its quality of service performance “is the best it has been for many years”.

Royal Mail stated: “In the most recent reporting period, 85% of First Class letters were delivered on time, up from 76% in the same period last year. 91.4% of Second Class letters were delivered on time in the same period, up from 89.3% last year. We recognise that customers expect further improvement and we remain focused on delivering it.”

The company pointed to the deployment of Universal Service reforms in 90% of delivery offices so far, calling it “one of the biggest changes” to operations in Royal Mail’s history while it recognised that “it has not been easy”.

The business continued: “Royal Mail has been working constructively with CWU members and representatives at operational levels, including a major reset announced internally three weeks ago, and will continue to do so.

“This includes listening to colleagues’ comments and suggestions for further improvements in the rollout of the new delivery model. We urge the CWU leadership to do the same and to stop using public commentary talking down the business as a way of trying to achieve their own tactical objectives.”

[pinstripe]

“This includes listening to colleagues’ comments and suggestions for further improvements in the rollout of the new delivery model.”

What a load of nonsense. Even if they did listen, they would continue to ignore them.