Flower exports wilt as post strikes’ impact increases

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2009/09/1 ... increases/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FURTHER industrial action by UK postal workers could seriously damage the local flower industry, according to a spokesman.

Guernsey Postal Flowers Association chairman, Mark Fletcher, pictured, said the majority of businesses were experiencing a downturn of between 10 and 25% and some as much as 40%.

‘Some items can sit in containers for days and it doesn’t matter a great deal but you can’t do that with flowers,’ he said.

The Communication Workers Union in the UK began balloting members on Thursdayover the possibility of a national postal strike in protest against pay and job cuts at Royal Mail.

Mr Fletcher said he had written to the Office of Utility Regulation about what he said was Royal Mail’s abuse of its dominant position.

‘Ten weeks ago they started with lightning strikes, some unofficial, and it doesn’t give our customers a lot of confidence,’ said Mr Fletcher.

He said a proposal was before the OUR from Guernsey Post looking to pass on charges from April of between eight and 40% set to be imposed by Royal Mail when price by proportion charging will come in.

‘Our businesses are being damaged and now we are being asked to pay more for it too,’ said Mr Fletcher.

‘Our customers understandably might look elsewhere and, if they find an alternative, who’s to say they will ever come back.’

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Mr Fletcher said he had written to the Office of Utility Regulation about what he said was Royal Mail’s abuse of its dominant position.

‘Ten weeks ago they started with lightning strikes, some unofficial, and it doesn’t give our customers a lot of confidence,’ said Mr Fletcher.

Don't think she quite understands the relationship between the CWU and RM going by this statement.

[POSTMAN]

Funy thing is,when we've got a packet backlog,flowers are the 1st thing we pull out to deliver.What i mean is,they never get delayed at our place.
They come in and go out the same day.

[dvbuk55]

"Dominance in the market" means we are NOT the only provider of a service BUT we are the most reliable and more importantly the cheapest - so if they want to supply their customers they DO have a choice.

[dongash]

SORRY, I DO FEEL SORRY FOR THE FLOWER EXPORTERS, BUT I AM SICK OF BEING TREATED LIKE s**t?? REGARDS DONGASH OPG MACCLESFIELD SK

[andy2007]

Why dont they go to TNT DHL ect after all RM and the Government say one of that lot needs to come in and show us at RM how its done. Oh thats right they just wanna go with both the cheapest and most reliable servce and strangly enough that would be RM even with IA on the cards. Like everyone else they have a choice and they choose us but want to bitch moan blame us and go for compo because of the global downturn and working people dont have enough cash to waste on a bunch of flowers.

I buy flowers from time to time. For my Wife, and to put on my Relatives Graves. And I'm quite sure that a lot of other people on here do too. It's hardly a major expense.

As Postman said: The Flowers get priority in his DO. And I'd like to think that they do everywhere.