British businesses are being hit by the ongoing strikes at Royal Mail which today entered anotherweek of partial stoppages.
Entrepreneurs across London warned they may go bust if the postal strike continues, the BBCreported as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced another week of industrial action atRoyal Mail following many weeks of on-off strikes in the last two months.
Over 15,000 Royal Mail staff are expected to take part in the 24-hour strikes across UK thisweek including major cities such as London, Cambridge, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Nottingham, Glasgowand Coventry. According to the UK national newspaper The Daily Telegraph, it will be the latest ofthe numerous local strikes that have contributed to the worst disruption to the service since thenational strike of 2007.
The long running local strikes have already been declared a “national strike in all butname”, the newspaper wrote. The unions said about 30 million letters could not be delivered butRoyal Mail claimed the figure amounted to only 9 million.
The CWU is currently ballotting its 121,000 postal members over a national strike with theresult expected in early October and a possible strike towards the end of next month.
Meanwhile, BBC London reported it has been contacted by numerous businesses unable to sendshipments and bills as the dispute continues. A Royal Mail spokesman said they were “concerned”about the strikes’ impact.
A web gift shop owner Kate Knight commented: “I worked 16 hours a day for years building myreputation – I fear the strike will put me out of business.”
“I’m spending several hours every day answering emails from customers asking where packagesare,” she added. “In the last couple of weeks alone I’ve had to refund £200 to customers whohaven’t received their order. I’ve had to turn orders down as I’m unable to guarantee arrival.”
Antonia Hawke, another owner of a London-based online business “The Pro Makeup Shop”, said:“My costs now run into hundred-plus pounds which we cannot afford. None of us are interested whoblames who – we just need a service we are paying for.”
Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, confirmed: “The timing isunfortunate, as businesses are just beginning to pick up.”
Paul Tolhurst, Royal Mail’s operations director, confirmed customer fears: “We are concernedstrike action is damaging service quality and we urge the Communication Workers Union (CWU) toabandon their totally unjustified strikes and get back to delivering customers’ mail.”
A CWU spokeswoman responded: “Strike action is an absolute last resort and we feel for peopleaffected by the strike. We would urge them to put pressure on Royal Mail to come to agreement. Someof Royal Mail’s plans would be of detriment to small businesses,” she added.
