NATIONAL strikes will speed up the inevitable decline of the postal industry and damage the economy, according to Guernsey Post.

Chief executive Gordon Steele (pictured) said he was extremely frustrated about Royal Mail staff refusing to work and said that would hit islanders and business alike.

‘Both sides need their heads banged together,’ he said.

In the meantime, customers would suffer and further lose faith, he added.

‘It is damaging for our customers, for businesses like Moonpig and HMV and Healthspan, and for the whole mailing industry.

‘Our volumes from the UK to Guernsey this year are down 16% and that is not a one-off, it is a decline in the use of the mail service and strikes make that worse and encourage us all to use alternative methods of communication.’

One Guernsey Post customer reported an instant slowing in orders when the national strikes were announced.

‘Post is in a long-term decline without a shadow of a doubt.’

He said the use of text messages and emails was partly to blame, but that was natural with technological advances.

‘This is bound to have an effect on post’s popularity and people’s confidence in it and more people will start to pay by direct debit rather than posting cheques.’

He said he was frustrated because Guernsey Post had only limited influence.