Consumer Focus Post (Northern Ireland’s postal consumer champion) is advising customers to be aware of the possibility of national industrial action by Royal Mail postal workers and to follow Consumer Focus Post’s tips to avoiding disruption in the event of a strike.
A national ballot for industrial action across the United Kingdom is currently taking place and will close on 8 October. If the industrial action is approved, the earliest that national strike action could start would be from 15 October.
While there has been little disruption to mail services in Northern Ireland from the recent localised industrial action, customers here are experiencing lengthy delays in mail items from other parts of the UK, particularly London and the South East of England. Should the ballot for national industrial action be approved, postal customers will face a huge increase in disruption and inconvenience.
Chris Thirkettle, Consumer Focus Post, commented:
“Consumer Focus Post calls on the Communications Workers Union and Royal Mail management to work together to avoid any disruption to the consumer’s mail service. An escalation of this dispute will cause enormous inconvenience to members of the public and to local businesses at a time of economic hardship.
Nor can an industrial dispute be in the interests of Royal Mail or its staff as confidence in the service falls and mail business continues in long-term decline”.
Consumer Focus Post’s top tips include:
· Think about whether any bills or credit card payments are due and pay on-line, or at a bank or building society or post office
· If mail is urgent, consider sending it Special Delivery, as this service is the first priority for Royal Mail during strike action – but check with post office staff first
· If you have already sent urgent outgoing mail and think it may be delayed, contact the recipient to notify them
· If you are expecting, or needing to send, urgent mail such as legal documents, arrange an alternative method of delivery – such as email or another postal operator or courier company
· If you are awaiting information on an urgent appointment, for example a medical appointment or job interview, contact the organisation and ask to be informed by phone or email.
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 1 October 2008.
2. For further details please see our website: http://www.consumerfocus-post.org.uk/
