Sorting offices are saved from closure
UNION bosses are celebrating news that two Royal Mail delivery offices that cover 24,000 homes in Stockport - have been saved from the axe.
Marple and Bredbury offices, at Chapel Fields and George Lane respectively, were earmarked for closure in 2016, sparking a two-year battle.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) balloted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action against the move, which would have seen services moved to the Stockport office, on Green Lane.
But this week Royal Mail announced the plans had been scrapped as they ‘do not make business sense’.
Dave Kennedy, branch secretary of the CWU, is delighted but hit out at the Royal Mail for ‘causing uncertainty by relentlessly pursuing the unachievable’.
He said: “We are obviously really pleased with the outcome. But we have to question how the company can justify allowing this level of uncertainty to hang over our members and the public for so long.
“They were told from the outset that the proposals were fundamentally flawed and they were urged to drop them at every opportunity.
“Instead, they chose to relentlessly pursue the unachievable. We invite the company to think very carefully before they bring forward any unworkable plans in the future.”
Between them the two offices service large parts of east Stockport with 34 staff at Bredbury and 50 at Marple.
The CWU said the plans would badly affect both staff working conditions and the level of service to the public, with later deliveries and travelling to pick up parcels.
But Royal Mail were equally adamant this was not the case and the proposals would make for a more ‘efficient operation’.
A Royal Mail spokesman said the change of heart had come after detailed discussions with the CWU and staff at both sites.
He added: “Royal Mail will now not relocate Bredbury and Marple delivery offices. Both moves were reviewed again extensively and now do not make business sense.
“There will be no impact on mail deliveries to customers, who will continue to be served by the same postmen and women.
The Marple depot serves 11,000 homes, the Bredbury site deals with 13,000.