British Catalogers Brace For Postal Strike

Trade body the Catalogue Exchange is calling for urgent talks to bring an end to the Royal Mail dispute and next week's national postal strike.

Catalogue Exchange Chair Alison Lancaster said: "This strike will be devastating for our members, particularly in the lead up to Christmas. Many are already suffering as a result of the industrial action so far. We are urging ACAS to get both sides around the table so that common sense can prevail."

Members of CatEx, which supports more than two hundred businesses in the catalogue and online retail industry, have vowed they won't let customers down in the lead up to Christmas. As far as deliveries are concerned, many companies have already pledged that regardless of industrial action, festive orders will still be delivered as alternative distribution networks do exist.

Jillian Bamsey of Devon-based mail order firm and CatEx member, International Dance Supplies, said: "We've already got contingency plans in place, as we have had for the last six to eight weeks. We will send more and more of our parcels by FedEx. We won't let the Royal Mail destroy our business, two years ago we had to do the same thing. We have to make a promise to our customers that we will get our deliveries to them, we've got people with dance shows going on and they have to be on show. We won't let our customers down and we won't let the Royal Mail destroy us."

Catalogue Exchange President Nigel Swabey said: "Instead of focusing on job cuts, both management and unions should be talking about how they can compete with the private-sector services by offering premium delivery services to businesses and consumers that make the most of the tremendous asset that is present in the Royal Mail workforce and the Royal Mail brand."