Press officer Sian Jones said: ‘We just don’t have the capability to properly field that number of calls.’
The Wimbledon-based team, comprising Jones, head of comms Kevin Slocombe and campaigns manager John Colbert, was keen to ensure the CWU’s message was portrayed accurately in the media. Comms activity focused on pushing the message that the strike was over pensions, pay and modernisation.
The union has also criticised the Government over its lack of involvement in discussions.
Speaking about the wildcat strikes that broke out throughout the country earlier this month, Jones commented: ‘It has made our job busier. There’s been a lot of interest in the unofficial strike action. It has taken on a life of its own in the media.’ Jones was pleased with the ‘very accurate’ coverage in The FT, The Times and The Guardian. The Daily Telegraph was also ‘surprisingly positive’, she said.
Coverage in The Daily Express and the Daily Mail was described as ‘mixed’, focusing on human interest stories resulting from the strikes.
ost Office strike action planned for this week was called off on Tuesday. The press office at Royal Mail refused to discuss any PR activities.
