Postal strikes called off in 11th hour interim deal to relief of direct marketing industry
The postal strikes that have crippled the UK’s direct mail and e-commerce businesses have been called off in an 11th hour interim deal between Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union (CWU).
The two parties last night agreed to the temporary agreement which will see no further threat of further strike action in the run-up to Christmas.
The decision to end the strikes was “wholeheartedly welcomed” by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), which had lobbied senior politicians, including business secretary Peter Mandelson, to intervene.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber announced a temporary deal on Thursday evening, saying Royal Mail deliveries would be “free of any disruption” over Christmas, but a final agreement still remains far off.
A spokesman from the DMA is glad the message that direct mail is vital to the future success of Royal Mail has finally got through. Research by the organisation predicted that the industrial action would cost firms approximately £10 million in disrupted direct mail campaigns.
Royal Mail had this week taken out ads in national newspapers asking postal workers to defy their union and return to work. However, there is still an estimated backlog of five million pieces of mail.
As featured on UTalkMarketing.
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