Commenting on the announcement of a national postal strike, Rick Hill, Chairman of Consumer Focus Post, said:
‘It’s hugely disappointing to watch this great national institution tear itself apart. We call on Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union to urgently ask for ACAS intervention to resolve this dispute. A prolonged strike over Christmas could cripple the service and will lead to a miserable time for consumers and businesses alike.
‘The bottom line is that there are no winners in this dispute. Royal Mail customers are already finding alternative ways of communicating and many will not return once the dispute is over.
‘Post users should consider what the disruption will mean for them. People will need to rely on telephone, email or fax. To avoid extra charges, consumers expecting bills should call the company in advance and arrange an alternative way to pay – such as phone, online or at a bank or post office.
‘We are urging companies that are heavy users of the post service – such as Amazon or eBay – to make their plans clear on their websites, especially if the strike continues in the run up to Christmas. Banks and credit card companies should also show flexibility when considering late payment charges incurred as a result of delayed mail.
Notes to Editors
1. Consumer Focus Post is a statutory organisation that champions the interests of postal consumers across Northern Ireland. Consumer Focus Post started operating on 1st October 2008.
For further details please see our website: http://www.consumerfocus-post.org.uk/
2 Advice for customers on how to mitigate the impacts of the industrial action, can be found on:
