More Royal Mail strikes planned
October 23, 2009
Planned walkouts by members of the Royal Mail could see the U.K. lose £1.5 billion through extra costs and a loss of business. 78,000 employees of the Royal Mail will walk out today in a second day of strikes. A new wave of walkouts has been set for next week which will mean massive disruption in deliveries and huge backlogs. In the run up to Christmas it will be internet retailers who will feel the effects most severely as they will have to pay dearly for alternative delivery services. Already struggling small businesses will also face trouble as checks that are vital for cash flow are stalled in the disruption.
In Scotland it is estimated that the strikes will cost the economy in the region of £100 million. Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland spokesman, Colin Borland said that the postal disruptions were not simply an inconvenience for small businesses they were potentially fatal. He points out that around 70 percent of small businesses are reliant on the Royal Mail for taking their produce to customers and returning payment from customers to them.
The Communication Workers Union is presently finalizing the details for next week’s strikes. Postal workers say that they are 100 percent behind the strikes and whereas they didn’t want to see the public affected they didn’t know how else to get their demands for better working conditions and pay heard.
Related Posts
Comments
Advertisement
