Poor mail delivery blamed on strikes

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1402762007

GARETH EDWARDS ()

WILDCAT strikes at a mail centre in Edinburgh were today blamed for the "poor performance" of first class delivery services across the East of Scotland.

Figures released by the Royal Mail show that first-class delivery in Edinburgh over April, May and June was the 16th worst in the UK.

Several other parts of Scotland, including the Borders, Dundee and Perth, were among the worst ten performance areas in the UK, and Royal Mail bosses said the below-average figures had been caused by unofficial strikes at a delivery centre in Edinburgh.

In Edinburgh, delivery figures for first class mail showed that only 91.2 per cent of letters and parcels had been delivered the next day, below the minimum standard of 91.5 per cent.

And in areas served by the automated sorting centre at the Gyle, which was the scene of wildcat strikes at the end of May, figures for first class delivery were as low as 85.9 per cent. John Manson, Royal Mail area manager, apologised for the performance, and stressed the group was striving to ensure customers received the best service.

"Unfortunately, for the first quarter of 2007-08 our Quality of Service to customers in the EH postcode area was below our usual high standard," he said.

"This was because of a short period of unofficial industrial action right at the start of the quarter, which had a knock-on effect on the figures.

"I would like to apologise to customers in the area for any inconvenience caused by the unofficial industrial action.

"I can also assure them that the figure does not reflect the general level of service customers are receiving on a daily basis.

Across the UK, Royal Mail did achieve 93 percent of first class post delivered the next working day, meeting its UK minimum target, while Glasgow was among the top ten performers in the UK, with 94.7 per cent of first class mail delivered the next day.

Royal Mail bosses initially said the strike - called after staff clashed with Royal Mail bosses over its decision to bring in casual workers - would cause minimal disruption.

Industry watchdog Postwatch warned that Royal Mail could be looking at even worse results for the second quarter, covering July, April and September, due to official industrial action caused by a dispute over pay.

Alan Alexander, chair of Postwatch Scotland, said: "We are deeply concerned about the considerable dip in performance.

"Kirkcaldy and the Borders had the poorest service in the UK during the period, with Royal Mail missing their minimum target by a considerable margin.

"Royal Mail has pointed to poor weather and unofficial industrial action in Edinburgh as the causes of the deterioration in service. The message is clear: when strikes take place, it is customers who suffer. We hope that the remainder of the year will be strike-free, and Royal Mail can reverse this slump."

No-one from the Communication Workers Union could be reached for comment today.

[evilc]

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1402762007

GARETH EDWARDS ()

WILDCAT strikes at a mail centre in Edinburgh were today blamed for the "poor performance" of first class delivery services across the East of Scotland.

Figures released by the Royal Mail show that first-class delivery in Edinburgh over April, May and June was the 16th worst in the UK.

Several other parts of Scotland, including the Borders, Dundee and Perth, were among the worst ten performance areas in the UK, and Royal Mail bosses said the below-average figures had been caused by unofficial strikes at a delivery centre in Edinburgh.

In Edinburgh, delivery figures for first class mail showed that only 91.2 per cent of letters and parcels had been delivered the next day, below the minimum standard of 91.5 per cent.

And in areas served by the automated sorting centre at the Gyle, which was the scene of wildcat strikes at the end of May, figures for first class delivery were as low as 85.9 per cent. John Manson, Royal Mail area manager, apologised for the performance, and stressed the group was striving to ensure customers received the best service.

"Unfortunately, for the first quarter of 2007-08 our Quality of Service to customers in the EH postcode area was below our usual high standard," he said.

"This was because of a short period of unofficial industrial action right at the start of the quarter, which had a knock-on effect on the figures.

"I would like to apologise to customers in the area for any inconvenience caused by the unofficial industrial action.

"I can also assure them that the figure does not reflect the general level of service customers are receiving on a daily basis.

Across the UK, Royal Mail did achieve 93 percent of first class post delivered the next working day, meeting its UK minimum target, while Glasgow was among the top ten performers in the UK, with 94.7 per cent of first class mail delivered the next day.

Royal Mail bosses initially said the strike - called after staff clashed with Royal Mail bosses over its decision to bring in casual workers - would cause minimal disruption.

Industry watchdog Postwatch warned that Royal Mail could be looking at even worse results for the second quarter, covering July, April and September, due to official industrial action caused by a dispute over pay.

Alan Alexander, chair of Postwatch Scotland, said: "We are deeply concerned about the considerable dip in performance.

"Kirkcaldy and the Borders had the poorest service in the UK during the period, with Royal Mail missing their minimum target by a considerable margin.

"Royal Mail has pointed to poor weather and unofficial industrial action in Edinburgh as the causes of the deterioration in service. The message is clear: when strikes take place, it is customers who suffer. We hope that the remainder of the year will be strike-free, and Royal Mail can reverse this slump."

No-one from the Communication Workers Union could be reached for comment today.

Typical Royal Mail, blame anything but themselves. :cfo