UK Mail slams Royal Mail over strikes

UK Mail has slammed rival Royal Mail over continued strike action, warning it will damage the future of the mail industry. Guy Buswell, chief executive of UK Mail parent Business Post Group, has spoken out following this week’s announcement of further Royal Mail strike action.

He says: “The long-running nature of this dispute is extremely detrimental to the whole mail business. In short, we believe this action, if it continues, is in danger of damaging the future of the mail industry. Someone needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Who’s thinking about the customers here?”

He adds that he is keen to maintain good working relationships with Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union, because UK Mail relies on Royal Mail for the “final mile” delivery.

“This is a business model we intend to stick with in the future, as we believe it is the most sensible option for delivery of mail in the UK,” says Buswell.

UK Mail has a market share of 5.5% and collects more than 6 million letters.

Talks between Royal Mail and the CWU have been taking place for seven months in a dispute over pay and working conditions. The union this week announced two further strike dates in October, in a move condemned by Royal Mail, which says it is still willing to talk, but needs to modernise in order to prevent the business from failing.

The CWU said in June that its members had voted in favour of industrial action due to Royal Mail’s “below inflation pay offer”, and its plans to reduce the workforce by about 40,000, or 27%, by automating mail-sorting processes.