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MUA History: Key events 1996–2012

 

2012

Jan 12
MUA Chairman Alan Halfacre writes to Ofcom regarding the issue of Reversions, and concerns Industry has with Royal Mail's approach to them.
Jan 12
MUA submits its formal response to Ofcom's Review of Regulatory Conditions consultation.
Jan 12
MUA members contribute feedback to Pfcom's planned project into the needs of postal users, prior to the start of the Regulator's research and analysis.
Jan 12
MUA Inland Committee mets Chris Rousell - Competition Policy Director to discuss the proposals being put forward by Ofcom in its Review of Regulatory Conditions consultation.
Jan 12
MUA Submits a formal response to Ofcom's Securing the Universal Service consultation.

 

2011

Dec 11
MUA meets with Consumer Focus to discuss Ofcom's Securing the Universal Service consultation.
Sep 11
Members meet with Sean Browne from the Postal Services Policy Unit, Department of Business Innovation & Skills (BIS), to discuss the implementation of the Postal Services Act.
Sep 11
MUA discusses the issue of 'Reversions' with Ian Paterson - Strategy and Regulatory Affairs Director at UK Mail.
Sep 11
MUA meets with Tim Brown (outgoing CEO of Postcomm) to discuss issues relating to the handover of regulatory responsibility from Postcomm to Ofcom, and his views on the new Regulator's plans for future stakeholder engagement.
Sep 11
MUA responds to Ofcom's first consultation on its plans for the transition of regulatory responsibility from Postcomm to Ofcom.
Aug 11
MUA formally responds to Postcomm's consultation on the proposed dispensation from the requirement for Royal Mail to offer access terms under Condition 9, Part 1, Paragraph 2(b) of its Licence.
Aug 11
MUA formally responds to Postcomm's consultation on Royal Mail's application for a Direction for exemptions from certain aspects of Licence Condition 7 for Large Packets.
Jul 11
MUA's Chairman writes to Sean O'Hara - Director Customer, Strategy & Information at Postcomm requesting a Condition 21 investigation into Royal Mail's decision to overprint mail pieces with a 'Delivered By Royal Mail' indicia.
Jul 11
MUA's Chairman writes of Graham Davis - Director of Sales and Channels, to ask for an explanations regarding Royal Mail's decision to overprint all bulk mail pieces with the words 'Delivered By Royal Mail'.
Jul 11
MUA meets with Daniel Gordon of Ofcom to discuss the handover of regulatory responsibility from Postcomm to Ofcom.
Jul 11
MUA meets with Mark Thomson - Media Director Royal Mail to discuss the national carrier's take on future regulation in light of recent developments in the market.
Jun 11
MUA submits a formal response to Postcomm's initial proposals for a review of access arrangements in 2012.
Jun 11
MUA formally responds to Postcomm's consultation on its initial proposals for future regulatory safeguards.
Jun 11
MUA formally responds to Postcomm's proposals to remove bulk mail products from the universal service, whilst also clarifying the status of other universal service products.
Mar 11
MUA's Inland Committee meets with newly appointed Moya Greene - CEO of Royal Mail to hear her view of the UK Postal Market, and the future strategic direction of Royal Mail within it.
Mar 11
MUA's Inland Committee meet with Tim Brown CEO of Postcomm to discuss the passage of the Postal Services Bill through parliament; Postcomm's recently published Forward Work Plan for 2011-12; the next phase in the development of a sustainable regulatory framework for the postal service; Postcomms second consultation on its analysis of markets research; and its recently published consultation on the future of the access regime.
Jan 11
MUA formally responds to Postcomms decision document on its proposals for a new regulatory framework.

 

2010

Nov 10
MUA members receive a presentation from Sue Bide - Principal Customer Interests at Postcomm - on the joint research recently published by Postcomm/Consumer Focus into the needs of customers from the Universal Service.
Nov 10
MUA meets with Tim Brown - CEO of Postcomm to discuss the regulator's recently published proposals for a new regulatory framework; its view of Royal Mails recent application for additional revenue; and a general overview of the progression of the Postal Services Bill through its Committee Stage.
Nov 10
MUA's Chairman gives oral evidence to the House of Commons Postal Services Bill Committee.
Sep 10
MUA meets Rebecca Churchill - Director, Strategy & Market Development at Postcomm to discuss the next steps in the development of a new regulatory framework.
Sep 10
MUA's Inland Committee meets Glen Williamson - National Account Director at TNT Post UK to discuss its recently launched products TranSend and AdMail, and the business's plans for the future.
Aug 10
MUA submits its formal response to Postcomm's regulatory framework consultation entitled 'Laying the Foundations for a Sustainable Postal Service'.
Jul 10
MUA meets Sue Bide - Postcomm (Seconded part time to BIS) to discuss progress made on the updating of the Hooper Review.
Jul 10
MUA submits a formal response to the Hooper Review (Phase 2).
Mar 10
MUA's Inland Committee meets Rebecca Churchill - Director Strategy & Market Development at Postcomm to discuss the Regulators plans for the development of a fit for purpose regulatory framework going forward.
Jan 10
MUA members meet with Mark Thomson - Media Director at Royal Mail to discuss its future strategic direction and plans for transformation across the business over the next five years.
Jan 10
MUA's Inland Committee meets with Tim Brown CEO of Postcomm to establish what plans the Regulator has for the immediate future of the postal market, following the recent period of instability.

 

2009

Nov 09
MUA's Inland Committee meets with Mark Waples - Royal Mail's Head of Regulation and Compliance, and Rebecca Twist - Head of Response Services, to discuss proposed changes to Response Services specifications.
Nov 09
MUA's Inland Committee meets with Jonathan Djanogly MP - Shadow Minister for Business to discuss the Conservative Party's view on the postal market, the recent industrial action and its vision for the future of Royal Mail going forward.
Sep 09
MUA's Inland Committee meets with Dave Ward – Deputy General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union to discuss the general industrial relations situation facing the UK Postal Industry, and CWU's position towards future negotiations given the on-going regional strike action.
Sep 09
MUA's Inland Committee meets with Vicky Taylor – Head of Commercial Revenue Risk at Royal Mail to discuss its mails verifications procedures, and ways in which they can be made more customer friendly.
Jul 09
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Matt Bright – Deregulation Manager at Royal Mail to establish what changes Royal Mail is proposing to make to the Bulk Mail Compensation Scheme, in light of Postcomm’s decision to no longer regulate the activity.
Jul 09
MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets with Alain Surkol – Sales Manager for the UK and US at Belgium Post International to find out more about the BPI products and services available to UK business mailers.
May 09
MUA’s Inland Committee meets Richard Travers – Finance and IT Director at Royal Mail Wholesale to gauge RMW’s view of the marketplace, and its plans for zonal access pricing following a recent announcement about a planned delay in its introduction.
May 09
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Jon Booth – Director, Postal Services Reform, and Sue Bide – Deputy Director, Head of Postal Policy and Sector Relations from BERR to stay abreast of developments around the progress of the Postal Services Bill through Parliament.
May 09
An MUA delegation meets with Campbell Cowie – Director of Policy Development Strategy and Market Developments at Ofcom to discuss future regulation of the postal market.
Apr 09
An MUA delegation meets with Postcomm representatives to discuss Royal Mail Wholsale’s revised Zonal Access application.
Mar 09
MUA’s Inland Committee invites Debbie Gillatt – Director, Communications Networks at BERR to its meeting, in order to stay abreast of developments around the newly introduced Postal Services Bill.
Jan 09
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Tim Brown – Chief Executive of Postcomm to hear about developments following the publishing of the Hooper Report, and what industry can expect regarding the framing of legislation going forward.

2008

Dec 08
MUA is instrumental is the setting up of ‘Postaf’ the succeeding trade association body of the now defunct Postwatch Trade Association Forum.
Nov 08
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Colin Bradshaw – Head of Data Strategy at Royal Mail to discuss Intelligent Technology and the future use of tracking devices in services such a Royal Mail’s ‘Red Tag’ product.
Oct 08
MUA’s Chairman meets with Mark Thomson - Royal Mail’s new Media Director to discuss business customer concerns regarding customer non-compliance to RM’s automation specifications.
Sep 08
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Ninian Wilson – Director of Operations at Royal Mail to establish what plans Royal Mail have in the pipeline for development to the network, and how these may impact on members’ operations.
Jul 08
MUA’s Inland Committee meets Jennie Longden - Head of Royal Mail’s Address Management Unit to hear about the future direction of the Postcode Address File, given business mailers reliance on PAF as a key distribution tool.
May 08
MUA submits a second written response to Phase Two of BERR’s Independent Review of the UK Postal Services Market.
May 08
MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets Andrew Goddard Sales Director of TNT Post, to discuss the issue of ‘Access Headroom’, VAT distortion and TNT’s continuing end-to-end delivery trial pilot in Liverpool.
Apr 08
MUA’s Chairman gives oral evidence to Richard Hooper and the Review Panel of BERR’s Independent Review of the UK Postal Services Market.
Mar 08
MUA submits a response to response to Phase One of the Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Department’s Independent Review of the UK Postal Services Market.
Mar 08
MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets with Steve Patrick – Managing Director of UK Mail to hear the perspective of a downstream access supplier to developments in the market, and what role he envisages UK Mail playing in it.
Jan 08
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Luisa Fulci – Head of Commercial Pricing at Royal Mail to gain a better understanding of the driving forces behind some of the pricing initiatives presently underway, and Royal Mail’s longer term plans for the future.
Jan 08
MUA carries out research amongst membership into the effect of the industrial action at Royal Mail in the last quarter of 2007. The Association publishes a report entitled ‘The Impact of Strike Action at Royal Mail in 2007’, which is well received and referenced by key stakeholders in the industry.

2007

Nov 07
MUA members contribute to Postcomm’s Business Customer Survey 2007, and agree to act as a ‘Super Users’ control group for the 2008 survey.
Nov 07
An MUA delegation meets with Postcomm representatives to discuss Postcomm’s Interim Review of the Price Control, and business mailers concerns over the need for pricing stability in the marketplace.
Oct 07
An MUA delegation meets with Lord Whitty Chairman of the National Consumer Council – the succeeding statutory body to Postwatch, to discuss future business mailer representation.
Jun 07
MUA’s Chairman is invited to take a seat on the PAF Advisory Board (Postcode Address File), principally in place to oversee the management direction of Royal Mail’s independently administered Address Management Unit (AMU).
May 07
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Richard Moriarty – Deputy CEO of Postcomm to discuss Royal Mail’s request to suspend bulk mail compensation arrangements in light of impending industrial action.
May 07
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Mark Thomson – Sales and Customer Services Director at Royal Mail to hear about new product developments, progress in the implementation of containerisation, and background information regarding the on-going industrial relations problems at Royal Mail.
May 07
MUA’s Inland Committee meets John Ivers - Director Licensing Framework and Market Intelligence at Postcomm to discuss the Regulator’s Strategy Review and Royal Mail’s revised zonal pricing proposals.
Apr 07
MUA’s Chairman gives oral evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Regulators, regarding the appropriateness of Postcomm’s performance and structure as an industry regulator.
Mar 07
MUA’s Postal Operator Forum invites David Higham - Divisional Managing Director of TNT Post UK to give an update on TNT’s market development progress to date, and its plans for the future.
Feb 07
MUA is invited to provide written evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Regulators regarding the performance and structure of industry/economic regulators such as Postcomm.
Jan 07
MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets with Stephen Agar – Managing Director of Royal Mail Wholesale to get an update on progress to date, and Royal Mail Wholesale’s plans for the future.

2006

Nov 06
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Mark Roy CEO of the Read Group to find out more about the ‘itsmypost.com’ proposition, built upon the suppression element of the Mailing Preference Service.
Aug 06
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Mark Thomson – Director Sales and Customer Services and Alex Batchelor – Director Marketing from Royal Mail to gain insight into Royal Mail’s zonal pricing proposals, and its impact on the product road map.
Jun 06
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Billy Hayes – General Secretary and Dave Ward – Deputy General Secretary of the CWU to establish the union’s stance on a dispute brewing over Royal Mail’s imposition of a 2.9% pay deal.
Jun 06
MUA’s Inland Committee meets Millie Banerjee CBE – incoming National Chair of Postwatch to hear her assessment of Postwatch’s position in the marketplace, and how she considers business mailers can interact more effectively with key stakeholders.
May 06
MUA organises a series of visits to member organisations by Postcomm’s Strategic Team as part of the Regulator’s ‘Making the Market Work’ initiative.
Jan 06
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Paul Smith – Deputy Director at Postcomm to discuss the Regulator’s final proposals for Royal Mail’s price control from April 2006.

 

2005

Oct 05
MUA meets with Sir George Bain - Special Advisor to Alan Johnson MP Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to discuss full market opening, the universal service obligation, Royal Mail’s price control and pension deficit, and how these might impact on the future stability of Royal Mail.
Aug 05
MUA submits a discussion paper to Postcomm for the development of an electronically based quality of service monitoring system.
Aug 05
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Peter Carr – CEO of Postwatch to discuss Royal Mail’s forthcoming price control, the independent monitoring of Royal Mail’s quality of service, Royal Mail’s current investment policy and its increasingly worrying pension deficit.
Jun 05
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Sarah Chambers – incoming CEO of Postcomm to discuss the Regulator’s market opening strategy.
May 05
MUA is sited as an ‘interested party’ in Postwatch’s Judicial Review of Postcomm’s conduct in officiating the payment of compensation, and its arguable failure in its duty to take enforcement action against Royal Mail to recompense customers with approximately £40million compensation in the year 2003/04.
May 05
An MUA delegation meets with Gregor McGregor – CEO of Postwatch to discuss the circumstances surrounding Royal Mail refusal to pay compensation to bulk volume mailers in the year 2003/04.
May 05
An MUA delegation meets with Richard Moriarty – Deputy CEO at Postcomm to discuss the Regulator’s ‘minded to agree’ proposals for Royal Mail’s sized based pricing proposals.
Apr 05
MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets with Matthew Robertson – Director of TNT Mail to discuss TNT’s market aspirations.
Feb 05
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Richard Koster – Director of Products and Alex Walsh – Head for Mail Agents and Trade Associations at Royal Mail, to discuss the introduction of its Product Roadmap.

2004

Dec 04
MUA meets with Adam Crozier – CEO of Royal Mail to discuss the implementation of Royal Mail’s Renewal Plan.
Sep 04
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Paul Sutton - Project Manager, Royal Mail Network Containers to discuss the operational aspects of its tray trialling project.
Jun 04
MUA meets with Nigel Stapleton – incoming Chairman of Postcomm to discuss: size based pricing; quality of service levels; RM industrial relations; Mailsort re-engineering; Postcomm’s competitive market review; and his immediate plans for the future.
Jan 04
MUA’s Inland Committee meets with Elmer Toime - Executive Deputy Chairman of Royal Mail to discuss various operational aspects including: the simplification of Royal Mail organisational structure; the drive to further empower its customer account management structure; and specialisation of Royal Mail’s marketing function.

2002–2003

  • Throughout the year MUA sponsors the European Mail Users Forum, the SMI Competitive Strategies for a De-regulated Postal Industry Conference and Triangle’s UK Mail Show.
  • An MUA delegation meets with Martin Stanley - CEO of Postcomm to discuss Royal Mail’s Size Based Pricing proposals.
  • MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets with Ian Paterson - Head of Regulatory Affairs at UK Mail to discuss what plans they have in the pipeline for future mail services.
  • An MUA delegation meets with Postcomm representatives to discuss issues surrounding the Regulator’s determination of the extent of Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation.
  • MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets Andy Goddard - Head of Sales at Express Dairies to discuss Express dairies planned entry into the final delivery market.
  • MUA takes a lead role in representing the industry in Postwatch’s OFT Super Complaint, which serves to focus attention on Royal Mail’s operational inconsistencies.
  • An MUA delegation meets with Alan Leighton to discuss the on-going customer/supplier relationship, and how he envisages Royal Mail bringing products and services to the market in an increasingly competitive environment.
  • MUA’s Postal Operator Forum meets with Charles Neilson – TPG UK Director of Operations to discuss TPG’s plans for future business mail services.
  • An MUA delegation meets with Martin Stanley CEO of Postcomm to discuss business mailers’ concerns with Royal Mail’s future pricing controls.
  • Martin Stanley - CEO of Postcomm attends MUA’s Inland Committee meeting to discuss future market developments and their associated regulatory implications, particularly regarding the setting of Royal Mail’s price control formula. Peter Carr - Chairman of Postwatch also attends the meeting to share insight on various subjects including: future pricing, compensation, re-engineering of Mailsort products and Size Based Pricing.
  • Allan Leighton Chairman of Consignia attends MUA’s Inland Committee meeting to discuss his vision for the future, and the strategic approach he intends to take to address the problems it faces.
  • An MUA delegation meets with CWU leaders Billy Hayes - General Secretary and John Keggie Deputy General Secretary (Postal), to discuss circumstances surrounding the union’s wage negotiations with Consignia (Royal Mail), and their views on Postcomm’s proposals for the introduction of competition into the marketplace.
  • MUA’s Inland Committee forms the Postal Operator Forum in order to meet existing postal operators and new market entrants to discuss their plans for the future.

2000–2001

  • An MUA delegation meets with Geoffrey Norris - Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister at No. 10 Downing St, to discuss business mailer concerns for the future of postal services in the UK. A visit to a large mailing operation is set up, and it is agreed further dialogue should take place.
  • MUA’s Chairman makes a presentation to Postcomm’s Promoting Effective Competition Workshop, summarising what business mailers want from the liberalisation process, and how they believe it can be achieved.
  • MUA submits its response to Postcomm’s competition consultation exercise.
  • Martin Stanley - Chief Executive of Postcomm attends MUA’s Inland Committee to discuss liberalisation measures, prior to the release of Postcomm’s second consultation document on the promotion of effective competition in UK postal services.
  • MUA members host visits from Postcomm Chairman Graham Corbett, and five Collegiate Directors to view mailing operations and discuss issues of concern to business mailers.
  • MUA is requested to provide written evidence in Postcomm’s consultation on ‘Licensing Postal Services’ and ‘Promoting Effective Competition Between Postal Operators’.
  • MUA is asked to submit oral evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union regarding further liberalisation of Community postal services. (full transcript in 2nd Report HL Paper 6).
  • The House of Lords European Union Committee on Energy, Industry and Transport request written evidence from MUA in its inquiry into the liberalisation of the postal services market.
  • An MUA delegation meets John Keggie - Deputy General Secretary (Postal) of the Communication Workers Union to discuss industrial relations issues and circumstances surrounding the negotiation of new work and pay measures.
  • MUA produces a position paper entitled ‘Compensation for Business Mailers’. Postwatch adopts this paper as being the generic stance of the overall mailing industry. Postwatch presents it to Royal Mail and the Department of Trade and Industry as a discussion document.
  • Martin Stanley - newly appointed Chief Executive of the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm) attends MUA’s Inland Committee meeting to discuss how he intends to set up and develop the work of the new Postal Regulatory Body.
  • MUA plays a key role in the development of Postwatch’s Trade Association Forum.
  • An MUA delegation meets with Peter Carr - recently appointed Chairman of Postwatch - the revamped Consumer Council for Postal Services (originally the Post Office Users’ National Council), to discuss how business mailers and the new statutory body responsible for consumer representation can forge a closer working relationship.

1998–1999

  • MUA Meets Derek Hodgeson - General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union to discuss CWU’s stance on the future of the Post Office.
  • MUA meets with Alan Johnson MP - Minister for Competitiveness to discuss progress on the White Paper and the timetable for postal reform.
  • MUA submits its response to the White Paper.
  • Ian McCartney MP Minister of State requests a meeting with MUA to discuss the content of the White Paper on the future of the Post Office.
  • An MUA delegation meets Tim Boswell MP- Conservative Shadow Front Bench Spokesman to discuss business mailers’ postal needs.
  • MUA sets up an independent postal monitor to gauge alarmingly low quality of service levels.
  • MUA is asked to submit further evidence to the DTI on industry’s stance toward Margaret Beckett’s statements on greater commercial freedom for the Post Office.
  • MUA begins a series of four pricing meetings with Royal Mail Streamline and the Direct Marketing Association, to develop and agree a future business pricing strategy.
  • MUA meets with newly elected Alan Johnson MP - Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Dawn Primerola of the Treasury, to discuss future Labour postal strategy.
  • Ian McCartney MP Minister of State accepts an invitation to speak at MUA’s Annual Luncheon in March 1998.

1996–1997

  • MUA’s Inland Committee meets John Tew - Director and General Manager of Royal Mail Streamline to discuss the finer points of Royal Mail’s future business pricing strategy. As a result of this meeting, a series of ‘nuts and bolts’ sessions are organised for the first two quarters of 1998.
  • An MUA delegation meets Michael Fallon MP of the Opposition to discuss the future of the Post Office prior to a Governmental statement on its intended direction.
  • Jim Cotton Betteridge - Sales and Marketing Director of Royal Mail attends MUA’s Inland Committee meeting to discuss Royal Mail’s plans for future business pricing and its overall strategic direction.
  • MUA is asked to submit further evidence to Ian McCartney MP pertaining to increased competition, the role and structure of a future Postal Regulator, and the future of hybrid and electronic mail.
  • MUA meets Ian McCartney MP - Minister of State for the postal portfolio to discuss UK postal services, following a Labour announcement that it is to review the future of the Post Office.
  • An MUA delegation meets with John Tew - Director and General Manager of Royal Mail Streamline to discuss future business pricing, and the feasibility of divorcing business pricing from public tariff.
  • MUA enters into informal talks with the Alan Johnson - Joint General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union in order to review how CWU viewed the future of the Post Office in the run up to the general election, and establish how talks are going with Royal Mail concerning the issue of ‘team working’.