Royal Mail set to employ 30,000 temporary workers for Christmas 2009

Date: October 19, 2009

Royal Mail Group Plc is currently negotiating with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which has confirmed two nation wide strikes on Thursday Oct 22 and 23 in a dispute over pay and work conditions.

Meanwhile The Royal Mail has reported plans to hire 30,000 seasonal workers, double the usual seasonal amount historically employed at Christmas as well as at an earlier time in order to cover for their staff members. The move has been interpreted by CWU as lack of commitment to reach an agreement between the Royal Mail and CWU.

The Operations Director of Royal Mail Paul Tolhurst, says that he understands the role of the CWU but Royal Mail’s priority is to meet customer demands and has expressed a primary that the primary concern is to keep the UK’s mail system moving on. Adam Croizer, Royal Mail Chief Executive sees the workers strike as an unjustified attack on customers and adds “We are absolutely determined to do everything we can to minimise delays to customer’s mail, especially in the run up to Christmas”.

The CWU which represent 121,000 Royal Mail staff is going ahead with the strike and Billy Hayes, general secretary of the union has qualified the decision of the Royal Mail’s intention to take on 30,000 contractors during Christmas as “stupid”.

The Royal Mail has been reported to have lost in the order of £70 million in preceding months, generally having a rocky ride due to losing market share to competitors such as TNT and NV who have entered the once monopolised market.

Having a flexible temporary workforce in order to meet customer demands is one matter but looking after these as well as permanent staff is an entirely other matter.