CWU slams TNT's plans for Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2 ... -mail.html

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is angry with TNT's announcement it is seeking a stake in Royal Mail.

The Dutch postal giant confirmed before Christmas that it was looking to "explore a strategic partnership" with Royal Mail. This followed the publication of the Hooper Commission report into the future of Royal Mail in the light of falling mail volumes, which stressed that it needs to find a commercial partner and modernise to survive.

However, the CWU's general secretary Billy Hayes adds: "It is incredible that the British government, which has led the world in overhauling banks, needs another European postal service to rescue Royal Mail."

Dave Ward, deputy general secretary, adds: "There is no need to seek private funding from outside companies in a joint venture. This would open the floodgates for full-blown, damaging privatisation."

However, the Hooper Commission points to the relative efficiency of Royal Mail compared to other European postal services, notably TNT (Netherlands) and Deutsche Post (Germany). It says: "Royal Mail is much less efficient than many of its European peers. Last year, Royal Mail's letters business was the least profitable postal firm among its Western European peers, and the only one to make an operating loss.

"Since the 1990s, Royal Mail's national distribution network is virtually unchanged, whereas modern European firms have reduced the number of mail centres by around 50% to optimise operations.

"Companies such as Deutsche Post and TNT achieved profit margins of between 13% and 15%."

[uprising95]

i bet they are doing some serious arse licking

tell them were to go lol

[DGP1]

Of course Deutche Post makes a big profit http://www.americanshipper.com/paid/MAY01/eu_fines.asp