The Greeting Card Association (GCA) and its members, largely made up of SME’s, are continuing to express increasing concerns about the significant first-class stamp price rises and proposed reforms to Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation, (USO), that could see second class deliveries cut back to three, or even two, days a week.
Consequently, members across the country have been taking direct action at local pillar boxes to remind people of the value of a Royal Mail service that’s been national, reliable and affordable. The launch of the campaign coincided with the appearance of the business secretary and post office minister at a select committee hearing. The campaign aims to ensure Royal Mail reforms proposed by Ofcom get formal parliamentary scrutiny and are not implemented through a back door deal.
In October Royal Mail raised the price of a first-class stamp from £1.35 to £1.65 – a 22 per cent increase that was the fifth hike in less than three years. A first-class stamp is now almost twice the price of a second-class stamp, which remains affordable at 85p because it has the protection of being pegged to inflation by regulator Ofcom. The GCA fears the rise could result in killing off affordable letters post for good. Royal Mail and Ofcom have said that their proposals need no intervention from government before implementation, bypassing parliamentary scrutiny[1].
Across the UK, GCA members have been uniting to ensure their voice is heard, with one member, David Falkner of Cardology, taking a post box from his design studio near Croydon to parliament.
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Members taking part include high street and online retailers, publishers and designers.
Top: Greeting card publisher Wendy Jones-Blackett is shown at her local post box.
