Small businesses will face severe post delays this week when Royal Mail workers stage the first national mail strike in over a decade.
Last week the Commercial Workers’ Union (CWU) announced the strike, scheduled for Friday 29 June, after disputes over pay were unable to be reconciled.
Further industrial action within two weeks is also on the cards if an agreement still cannot be reached, the CWU said.
According to research by Canon, which provides electronic alternatives to traditional paper mail, the strike will be ‘crippling’ for the nation’s small businesses, of which a staggering 94% use Royal Mail exclusively.
A spokesman for Canon said: “It is particularly bad news for the UK’s small businesses, who contribute a substantial amount to the greater UK economy but who rely on the postal service to conduct their day-to-day business operations.
“Our research shows that small businesses are still relying heavily on traditional methods of sending and receiving business critical documents.”
According to Canon the timing of the strike, on the last working day of the month, is particularly significant.
The timing could result in quarterly deadlines for tax returns being missed, company accounts being filed late or put a strain on relationships with suppliers if invoices or cheques are delayed, Canon said.
The spokesman added: “The postal strike will have serious implications for businesses that do not have alternative ways to send paper based information.
“The financial impact in terms of company cashflow could run into the millions of pounds as invoices remain unpaid, orders are not delivered and companies fail to meet regulatory compliance deadlines.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007
