Royal Mail branches still struggling after cyber attack
Royal Mail has efficiently restored virtually all of its worldwide providers following the ten January LockBit ransomware attack on its programs, however stays unable to simply accept new parcels in its bodily branches, though prospects can drop off gadgets for which they’ve purchased postage on-line.
In an replace posted right this moment, Royal Mail mentioned it was making progress despatching extra gadgets to extra locations.
“We continue to make progress in exporting an increasing number of items to a growing number of international destinations,” the organisation mentioned.
“We are utilizing various options and programs, which aren’t affected by the current cyber incident and have been efficiently despatching parcels and letters which have been in our community earlier than the cyber incident and our providers which have not too long ago reopened.
“As a results of this progress and the persevering with development in functionality of our various export options, we’ve got introduced the restoration of many International export providers.
Royal Mail has now reintroduced International Untracked (Priority, Standard and Economy) providers for shopper and on-account prospects when purchased on-line.
Business prospects can now additionally ship International Untracked private correspondence letter providers, and three core non-personal correspondence International Standard providers, once more when purchased on-line.
This is along with International Tracked, International Tracked and Signed and International Signed, which got here again on stream final week.
However, presently, the postal service is still asking prospects to purchase postage on-line earlier than heading to their department to drop off their gadgets, because it stays unable to course of any new parcels purchased over-the-counter.
This mentioned, prospects can use branches to purchase and ship gadgets despatched through Parcelforce Worldwide, in addition to International Standard and Economy letters.
“We are working hard to resume more services through Post Office branches and will provide further updates on these services as soon as possible,” mentioned Royal Mail. “Delivery of International items may take slightly longer than usual and customers using Tracked services may notice different tracking information as items leave the UK.”
Import and home operations
The postal service’s import and home operations haven’t been affected by the LockBit attack.
Customers are more likely to face additional disruption throughout the coming weeks after the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) called a 24-hour strike to begin on Thursday 16 February.
CWU normal secretary Dave Ward mentioned Royal Mail bosses – who have been grilled earlier than a parliamentary committee final month – had reneged on a promise to abide by long-standing industrial relations (IR) framework procedures when proposing to introduce operational modifications.
Ward mentioned this was in direct contradiction to an “unequivocal commitment” given by Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson in a letter on 6 January, during which he mentioned “the IR framework will apply in full”. This dedication had been instrumental within the CWU not calling additional strikes, to allow each events to get across the negotiating desk.
However, the CWU now says Royal Mail has began to implement extra revisions and unagreed modifications whereas refusing to barter regionally or apply the phrases of the framework, therefore its newest poll of members.
