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Times
a day ago
- Business
- Times
New Royal Mail owner tells workers: We need to be on the same ship
The Czech billionaire behind the £3.6 billion takeover of the owner of Royal Mail has called on workers to be 'on the same ship' for the 500-year-old business to succeed. In an internal memo to staff, coinciding with Royal Mail reaching an agreement with unions on pay at the weekend, Daniel Kretinsky said: 'We recognise the importance of working together with our trade unions to ensure a successful future for Royal Mail and a fresh start for our industrial relations.' Under its previous management, Royal Mail was weakened by a bitter industrial dispute that had featured 18 days of strikes over pay and conditions. The breakdown left workers 'disengaged' and the company, which has been expanding in parcels amid the long-term decline in letters, losing more than £1 million a day. EP Group, a conglomerate controlled by Kretinsky, completed an audacious 370p-a-share takeover of International Distribution Services (IDS) in May after agreeing undertakings with ministers, including issuing a so-called golden share to the government, as well as reaching an agreement with the Communication Workers Union, representing frontline Royal Mail workers. Following on from that agreement in December, union bosses told members on Sunday that a deal on pay had now been reached. 'If it is endorsed by the postal executive we will share the full details of the agreement as part of an extensive communications exercise ahead of a full members ballot,' Dave Ward, the general secretary, said. Ward has previously said 'the status quo is not tenable' and that the government's 'golden share' had given the union 'more confidence to go ahead with the agreement'. Kretinsky, who has invested fortunes raised from European energy assets in food, media, logistics and sports, including stakes in J Sainsbury and West Ham United football club, has installed himself as chairman, replacing Keith Williams, the former IDS chairman, who left the company in June. Emma Gilthorpe has been replaced as chief executive of Royal Mail by Alistair Cochrane, who has been promoted from his role as chief operating officer. Associates of Kretinsky have also been appointed to the board. Jiri Zrust, a fellow Czech who is a senior logistics executive at Trafigura, the commodities group, has been appointed as an independent non-executive director. Greg Hands, a former Conservative trade minister, has been appointed as a strategic adviser to EP Group, which is based in Prague. In his memo to staff, Kretinsky said he was committed to 'working jointly' with CWU and Unite, which 'underlines what I have said from the very beginning of this process: we all need to be 'on the same ship' because if Royal Mail succeeds, we will all benefit'. Kretinsky reiterated that EP Group were 'committed investors and partners and believe the pathway to success lies in taking a truly long-term view of the future'. 'Despite a very challenging market environment, the difficult financial situation for Royal Mail and ongoing uncertainty about desired universal service regulatory changes, we have offered CWU a three-year pay deal, with greater job security.' He said Royal Mail had 'strengths that no other company can match, such as our brand heritage and our beloved posties'. IDS also owns GLS, a more successful parcel business that operates across Europe and North America. Krestinsky is understood to be focused on expanding GLS.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Dog attacks forced postmen to take almost 3,000 days off last year
Dog attacks forced postmen to take 2,700 days off work in 2024, figures have revealed. Royal Mail said the longest period of staff absence was 108 days. In the year ending March 31, 2024, there were 2,206 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers, according to the Communication Workers Union. This represents an average of 42 attacks per week. This had led to some victims suffering permanent and disabling injuries. There were 74 significant injuries recorded in 2024/25 compared with the 82 reported in 2023/24. The figures were released at the start of the annual Dog Awareness Week, aimed at encouraging responsible ownership. Royal Mail urged dog owners to ensure they understand the often devastating impact of attacks on postmen and postwomen and to take proper measures so their pets pose no threat. Highest-risk area was Sheffield The highest-risk location in the past year was the S (Sheffield) postcode where 66 postal workers suffered dog attacks, followed by the PO (Portsmouth) postcode area with 60 attacks and the TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) postcode area with 56 attacks. As in previous years, nearly half of dog attacks took place at the front door, one in four took place in gardens, drives or yards and almost 10 per cent took place in the street or road. Lizz Lloyd, health and safety director at Royal Mail, said: 'Dog attacks remain one of the most significant safety risks faced by postal workers. 'In many cases these incidents result in serious injuries, emotional distress and time away from work. 'Royal Mail continues to call on the public to be vigilant and responsible by securing their pets before opening the door to receive mail or packages. 'We continue to invest in safety training and awareness campaigns for both employees and the public but emphasise that community co-operation is essential to reducing these incidents.' Other areas where dog attacks have increased include Guildford, Nottingham, Chelmsford, Brighton, Belfast, Newcastle, Swindon, Doncaster and Staffordshire.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
BT plan to close Londonderry office 'came out of the blue'
BT's plans to close its office in Londonderry with the potential loss of around 140 jobs came "totally out of the blue", a trade union has company told staff on Wednesday that it plans to close its building at Queens quay and move 95 of the jobs to employees could be offered positions in Fussy, from the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said the company's staff in Derry now face "a very bleak future". "The fact they have looked at Derry, pulled the work out of Derry, has come as an absolute blow to them," Ms Fussy told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. The is due to meet members who work at the site on Thursday."We believe companies like BT, their focus should be on creating good employment within the UK and the decision here to move that work to India is completely unpalatable," she said."We know it is to our members as well."Their loyalty, their long service in this instance, their feeling is it means absolutely nothing." The Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald described the job losses as "deeply disappointing".The Sinn Féin minister said the news was especially concerning, coming so soon after the loss of 300 jobs at BT in January, BBC News NI reported up to 90 jobs could be at risk at BT's Belfast headquarters due to changes at the telecoms company."Our members would probably have thought that in terms of BT's operation in Northern Ireland that would have been it," Ms Fussy said. BT said its proposals to close the Derry office were part of a programme of "consolidating into a smaller number of buildings".It said the building was "not suitable for the long-term".The company said some staff whose roles are not being transferred to India could possibly relocate to Fussy said for many that was not a "real option"."It's not something we believe our members could sustain over a long period of time," she union will now enter a period of consultation with BT, she added. The SDLP MP for Foyle, Colum Eastwood, said the prospect of job losses was "devastating news for BT workers, their families and the broader local economy in Derry". Sinn Féin assembly member Pádraig Delargy said the potential job losses are "hugely concerning" for the local community, while Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Gary Middleton said he was deeply disappointed by the announcement.
