UUP urges both sides in Postal Dispute to step back from the Brink
Cllr Mark Cosgrove, the UUP spokesperson on Trade and Tourism today commented on the latest escalation of the postal dispute.
In a statement Mr Cosgrove said,
“Following confirmation of several further strike days I think it is vital for industry across the United Kingdom but specifically in the SME dominated market in Northern Ireland that there is an early resolution to this increasingly dangerous dispute. Most small business rely on the post to generate their cash flow and also to pay suppliers and a lot of business people have grave concerns over the outworkings of these strike days. It takes the postal service several days to get back to normal following only one day of strike action let alone several in a short space of time. In today’s ever increasingly competitive markets the term “Cash is King” has never been more poignant. More small businesses fail for reasons of poor Cash Flow than any other single factor. This dispute has the very real potential of costing Northern Ireland PLC jobs and lost business.
Of course the Post Office itself is a large and important employer and there has to be recognition of the very real concerns of staff with regards to the ongoing cost cutting programme that management are clearly embarked upon. I would urge both sides to step back from the brink as previous disputes have only weakened the company’s position and led to some of the largest customers voting with their feet and strengthening the hand of the Post Offices competitors. This of course leads to further redundancies as the supply v demand factors are worked through the business.
It is vital that this vital service is maintained and that working practises reflect world class norms otherwise the future for the service which is part of the fabric of British society will cease to exist as we know it. The UUP believe that doomsday scenario must be avoided at all costs.”