Anger over Post Office closures
JOBS: The Post Office and the Government have been accused of “stunning arrogance” after news that a further 37 flagship Crown offices are to close, with the loss of 300 staff.
The announcement, coupled with the loss of 127 financial specialist jobs, came just weeks after a consultation on the future of the postal service.
THE POST Office and the Government have been accused of “stunning arrogance” after it emerged a further 37 flagship Crown offices are to close with the loss of 300 staff.
The announcement, coupled with the loss of 127 financial specialist jobs, came just weeks after the closure of a consultation on the future of the postal service.
The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) said on top of the 62 branches announced for closure and franchise in 2016, the job cuts brings more “misery” to Post Office workers and customers.
Post Offices in Yorkshire, including at Huddersfield, Ossett in Wakefield, Pontefract, Pudsey in Leeds and Rotherham, will be among those to seek “franchise partners”.
The CWU’s General Secretary, Dave Ward, said: “The latest round of closures is further evidence that the Post Office is in crisis and that the board of the company, backed by the Government, is simply pursuing a strategy of slash and burn.
“Seventy-five thousand postcards were returned to the Government signed by members of the public calling for an end to the closure and franchise programme – the Post Office and the Government have completely ignored their views.
“The CWU will not accept this and we will be stepping up our political and industrial campaign to fight for the future of the Post Office.”
Under the plans, the Crown Post Office on Bridgegate, Rotherham, would be lost.
The Labour MP for the town, Sarah Champion, said: “The Crown Post Office in Rotherham provides vital services like passport renewal and driving licence verification, which will be difficult for to people to access elsewhere. Rotherham deserves better.”
The CWU’s Deputy General Secretary, Terry Pullinger, added: “The arrogance of the Post Office and Government is stunning. The Post Office network has been reduced by more than 50 per cent over the past 30 years and continues to be run down.”
The Post Office said it will be seeking “partners” for 37 of its directly managed branches, in addition to 93 previously announced in the last calendar year, nearly half of which have now relocated into retail stores.
The sales and trade marketing director, Roger Gale, said: “We’re committed to maintaining the Post Office’s special place on the high street and the changes we are making underpin our continued commitment to give communities in every part of the country access to essential services.
“The Post Office’s network of more than 11,600 branches is easily the largest in the UK, with 17m customer visits a week. The vast majority of these branches are run with partners, and in the locations announced today we believe this will also be a more sustainable approach for the long term.
“With consumer habits changing, and the high cost of maintaining premises in prime high street locations, franchising helps us to keep services where our customers want and need them.
“We will take time to identify the right partners over the coming months and all proposals will be subject to local consultation.”
Unite officer Brian Scott said it was “salami slicing of a much respected and valued national institution in pursuit of profit”, adding: “The public will suffer as services are continually and systematically eroded.”
The union has staged strikes in protest at the closure of Crown Post Offices – the larger branches usually sited on high streets.