29/08/2003

Royal Mail first class reliability rises

First Class mail reliability has reached its highest levels since the summer of 1998, rising throughout the first quarter of the financial year to reach more than 93% in June.

Figures released today for April to June show improvements to all Royal Mail services. First class quality of service rose throughout the quarter to reach 93.2%.

Cumulatively for the three months First Class mail performance was 92.3% – on course to meet the end of financial year target (03/ 04) of 92.5%.

This is the strongest quarterly performance since the summer of 1998 and the trends are the best for nearly a decade. Royal Mail’s last full-year result of more than 92% for First Class was in 1995/96.

Royal Mail Chief Executive Adam Crozier said: “Our people are working hard to continue driving the results in the right direction. The latest figures show that their efforts for our customers are paying off. ”

But Mr Crozier warned that the current threat of industrial action by the Communication Workers Union, which is currently balloting its members, would only serve to undermine customer confidence and the efforts of postal workers.

“These latest results demonstrate our ability to improve our performance. Consistently reliable services will keep customers with us and win new business.

“But all this will be thrown away if there is industrial action. We are offering our postmen and women 14.5% – the best offer we can make in a business that lost £611 million last year. I urge them to vote against industrial action.”

Royal Mail’s figures for April to June showed that the reliability of the Royal Mail’s flagship Special Delivery service has reached 99.2%.

Second Class reliability is at 98.6%, just above its end of year target of 98.5%.

(SP)

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