Parcels caution over monopoly
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by Karen Miles • The private parcels sector is not keen to take on the Royal Mail if the Government suspends its letters monopoly when postal workers strike.
TNT managing director Alan Jones and Securicor Omega Express chief executive Pat Howes both say they would not be interested in installing the infrastructure necessary to compete with Royal Mail's 70 million letters a day; DHL says it will continue to concentrate on its existing customers' needs.
The Union of Communication Workers does not believe that any private carriers are big enough to compete with Royal Mail. It plans more strikes today and
tomorrow (18/19 July); 26/27 July; 31 July-2 August; and 6/7 August.
The Department of Trade and Industry has started the consultation process necessary to suspend the monopoly on deliveries under El. It says if the Government goes ahead "it would be up to the private sector to offer their services".
Among the smaller parcels carriers Nightfreight says it would be interested in offering more next-day guaranteed deliveries and ANC says it would have "a serious look at the possibilities" if the monopoly is suspended.