Reducing the impact of the Post Office strike
Expert parcel broker ParcelHero advises businesses and individuals to use quality couriers on September 15.
The first major Post Office strike since the 1970s could have a significant impact on businesses and the general public, warns international parcel broker ParcelHero. Around 300 Crown Post Offices won’t open on 15th September in a row over closure plans and pensions.
Says ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks MILT: ‘The strike will impact on the main Crown Post Offices in UK towns and cities. Businesses and individuals need to plan ahead to mitigate delays to their shipments. People using Post Offices to ship parcels should try to send them a day earlier; or use a recognised international courier such as DHL, UPS or TNT, who will come to your premises or home and pick up your items, bypassing the need to visit the Post Office entirely.’
Says David: ‘We understand why Post Office staff are taking these actions: the Communication Workers Union (CWU) claims the Post Office plans to franchise around 60 of its main flagship Crown Post Offices; move another 16 into other stores such as WH Smiths, and close four Crown Post Offices entirely. Additionally, the organisation is seeking to close the Post Office’s defined benefit pension scheme. But businesses and individuals rely on their packages being delivered, whether important products or birthday presents; and everyone needs to work together to minimise disruption to people’s lives and businesses.’
The General Secretary of the CWU, David Ward, says ‘The Post Office as we know it is on the brink of extinction.’ But the Post Office – which was not part of the sell-off of the Royal Mail and remains a state-owned service – is under pressure to reduce costs. Post Office usage is falling as letter volumes reduce, and door-to-door courier services encourage more people to ditch the traditional Post Office queue for the convenience of a pick-up direct from their home or office.
Concludes David: ‘Obviously this is a difficult situation. The Post Office network needs urgent modernisation but important branches need protecting – and no one likes to hear of potential job losses of skilled staff. There is a possibility of further industrial action so it is sensible for everyone to have contingency plans in place, however. The quality couriers who work with parcel brokers such as ParcelHero are not connected to the Post Office network, so items sent on September 15 will not be impacted.
For more information on using couriers see: https://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/uk-courier-services
For more information please contact David Jinks, Head of PR, on david@parcelhero.com or by phone on 0208 7584962 (07772 055748 out of office hours)
Leading international online courier ParcelHero® strategically partners with the world's leading logistics companies, including DHL, UPS and DPD, to provide a flexible, cost-effective range of parcel delivery services to over 220 countries worldwide. Huge bulk purchasing power allows ParcelHero® to offer highly competitive pricing with no compromise in service quality.
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