Axe 1,000 jobs and shut down 275 offices, An Post urged

Minister faces storm as experts advise swingeing cuts

GOVERNMENT ministers have warned that the McKinsey recommendations commissioned by An Post will result in up to a 1,000 An Post workers losing their jobs.

The cuts are expected to mostly hit postmen and sorting workers.

The Irish Mail on Sunday has also learnt that ministers believe the report will recommend up to 275 post offices be shut down.

An Post CEO David McRedmond has previously noted that 265 post offices are ‘near no discernible area of population’.

The scale of the losses is sure to ignite a political firestorm. It comes after a separate Government report, written by businessman Bobby Kerr, proposed that 80 post offices would be closed and a further review of loss-making post offices be carried out in four years.

A spokesman for An Post told the MoS that ‘the list of recommendations for the firm is still being finalised’.

He added: ‘McKinsey’s were brought in to look at our business and provide a list of recommendations and that will all happen in the next few weeks.’

However, Government ministers have confirmed that ‘senior An Post figures have told us that in the wake of the McKinsey recommendations they believe over a thousand jobs will, as part of the current re-structuring process, have to go’.

The job losses, they said, ‘will mostly consist of postmen and sorting workers’.

The closures and job losses mean embattled Communications Minister Denis Naughten is likely to face a nationwide revolt of postmasters and communities.

One Fine Gael minister said: ‘If you look at the fuss that has been made over 37 post offices in six years, imagine the fury that will be created in rural Ireland over 275; Denis Naughten, or whoever is in charge, will be put to the pin of his collar to survive.’

The minister added: ‘The axing of a thousand workers is likely to be far more controversial.’ It will lead to genuine concerns that ‘the local postman will become as endangered as the local post office’.

This will be ‘a real test of Denis Naughten’s mettle, he has done a lot of talking recently about others; let’s see how he walks the walk on this one’.

Mr Naughten is believed to have

Postmen and sorting staff face most cuts

recently met the Irish Postmasters Union and is expected to shortly meet An Post bosses to discuss the likely contents of the McKinsey recommendations.

Previously, Mr McRedmond, the chief executive of An Post, warned that up to 500 post offices could be axed under major changes.

Already ministers are backing away from trouble, with one senior figure saying: ‘Remember, this is not a Government report; it is recommendations commissioned by An Post.’

Fianna Fáil communications spokesman Timmy Dooley said his party ‘will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to dilute the social obligation ethos of An Post’.

However, An Post sources warned: ‘The current realities are stark, we have to ensure An Post does not go over a cliff.’