News

Bulk mailers are bracing themselves for another potential postal strike, which could happen as soon as next Thursday (12 July).

The news comes after Postcomm refused Royal Mail's request to suspend the payment of compensation to bulk mail customers for two years following Royal Mail's recent strike. Instead it will suspend payment until the end of the financial year.

In a statement on its website, the Direct Mail Association (DMA) said it was exploring alternative postal options for customers.

It stated: "Hopefully this industrial action won't last long. In spite of competition, there are only very limited opportunities to use another operator for delivery to customers.

"If it [the industrial action] looks likely to continue then the DMA will actively explore other viable options for members."

Royal Mail said it has well-developed contingency plans that it will put into place in the event of any action and that it "will do everything possible to minimise the impact on customers in the event of further strike action".

Robert Keitch, DMA director of media channel development, said that as long as the strikes didn't continue for prolonged periods, there wouldn't be a serious effect on the industry.

"There's been a fairly low-level impact on the industry, but if it's sustained and ongoing, it will not do us any good. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the world didn't end with the strike last week."

The first national postal strike in 11 years took place on Friday 29 June and since then there has been little movement on negotiations.

The strikes kicked off after talks broke down between Royal Mail and the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) over plans to modernise the service. The core issue was a 2.5% pay deal, which Royal Mail claimed it is not prepared to change.

The CWU said it would officially announce today (5 July) whether it will start new strikes, which reports suggest might span several days in different areas of the country.