TNT Post said it will work with Royal Mail to ensure that final mile deliveries continue, following a vote which saw the majority of union members at Royal Mail support a boycott of competitors’ mail and packet deliveries.

The results of a Communications Workers Union (CWU) ballot of Royal Mail staff revealed that 92% supported a boycott of competitors’ mail, while 96% said they opposed the planned privatisation of the firm.

Of 112,000 workers, 74% voted, the CWU said.

Royal Mail responded to the result of the ballot by saying that refusal to handle other companies’ mail and parcels would be “unlawful” and could result in lost business as customers may seek to switch carriers.

In the High Court yesterday (19 June), the CWU said it will not induce members to boycott other carriers' deliveries.

A spokeswoman for rival TNT Post, which is currently sourcing investors to fund the roll-out of  its own ‘final mile’ service, said: “With regards to the continued threat of industrial action, that is matter for Royal Mail but if the situation did arise, we would work with Royal Mail to minimise any disruption to our customers.”

Royal Mail added that it was “fully committed to seeking an agreement” with CWU that both prepares the business for the future and is fair to its employees.

CWU general secretary Billy Hayes argued that its recent increase in EBITDA proved that Royal Mail did not need to be privatised to become a profitable company.

The ballot did not include Parcelforce or Post Office staff.

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