At last the full benefits of the privatisation of the postal service and the opening up of the delivery market is finally bearing fruit.

We consumers are already used to the convenience of having mail delivered three or four times a day by three or four different companies – a magazine by Selekt Mail, advertising junk from Sandd, bills from TNT and an envelope originating in the UK shoved through the letter box by the driver of a small white car – who could be anyone.
And it is good to know that opening up the market has allowed so many people to earn a living by delivering letters. Who cares if there is a new delivery person at least once a week who seems to think 10 different people live at your address.
And now staff at TNT can fully participate from market forces as well – as their unions agree to wage cuts because of the competition from low cost delivery companies.
Next April TNT will lose the last bit of its monopoly when the delivery of letters and cards weighing under 50 grammes is opened up to competition. The budget post firms are already eyeing up lucrative corporate contracts.
After all, sending a birthday card from Nijmegen to Aunt Truus on the Wadden Island of Terschelling is not exactly cheap. The price of stamps might not come down, but at least the wage bill will.