Labour relations are no doubt set for a stormy ride in the months ahead. Billy Hayes beat the union's deputy general secretary John Keggie, who had been tipped to win. While the letter delivery market has been liberalised, it will still be tightly regulated by PostComm. Firms wanting to deliver letters will have to win a licence from PostComm. That licence currently covers the right to deliver mail up to 1 in value and 350g in weight.
Candidates are likely to include the courier companies.
And PostComm spokeswoman Daryl Barrett on Thursday confirmed to BBC News Online that even at this early stage, they are in talks with interested parties. We are open to innovation and to see how the market develops, we want to see what competition brings. Consideration could be given to any licence application - even those from current providers of door delivery services, such as milkmen. PostComm says categorically that its primary aim is to preserve the universal postal service, which guarantees a collection from every postal point once a day, six days a week. The service also has to be operated at a standard price.