Councillor not sure mail delay sorted

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A Dundee councillor today said he remained unconvinced that postal problems in the city have been resolved, despite assurances from Royal Mail (writes Graeme Strachan).
Postal services have been disrupted in recent weeks after workers at the Dundee West delivery office on the Dryburgh industrial estate voted to resist changes to working practices.
They have now been joined in the protest by colleagues at the Dundee East delivery office.

Sources say a huge backlog of undelivered mail has built up, although this was today denied by Royal Mail.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said, “There are no major mail backlogs in Dundee as a result of the industrial action. Royal Mail has robust contingency plans in place to minimise any disruption to customers.”

West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said today Royal Mail had assured him only mailshots (bulk mail advertising) had built up, because more important mail was being prioritised.

But he said the evidence was that the problem was more serious.

Cll Macpherson said he contacted Royal Mail last week following complaints, and received assurances that whilst there had been some build up of mailshots, the problems were being tackled.

But, he said, he had since had complaints that several residents had not yet received the Government circular about swine flu.

“That would come under mailshot items, but the complainant says she’s also been expecting some personal mail from the south of England which has not yet arrived,” he said. “I’m unconvinced the problem is fully resolved.

“I am now keen to hear from residents if they are still having problems.

“Whilst Royal Mail are giving assurances, the evidence is that the problem goes wider than junk mail. When people are sent parcels and personal mail and they don’t seem to be receiving it, then clearly there is a problem.”

There has been a spate of complaints recently about missing mail. One couple who recently returned from holiday said they came back to just three letters and were still awaiting bank statements posted out during their break.

Another woman said she’d had no mail since last Wednesday.

“I’ve been waiting on a credit card statement,” she said. “Royal Mail might be saying there’s not a problem but clearly there is.”

Posties are refusing to work overtime because of changes to working patterns. They claim new routes — worked out by a computer — are making their jobs unmanageable.

Further strain will be put on Dundee West in July when four postmen accept voluntary redundancy.