Tag: Royal Mail

The Postal Operator formerly known as Royal Mail (UK)

Posted by | Jun 6, 2008 | |

Following an overwhelming rejection of pension reform by staff at Royal Mail earlier this year, and rumour that the government may be considering selling off parts of the business in an attempt to rescue what many now regard as a failed deregulation plan, some inside the union say that the Communication Workers Union is preparing for a full confrontation with Gordon Brown. Timing may be factor here though.

Next week is of course the CWU Conference, and those jostling for a better position within the union will be far more vocal than they might otherwise be, with stirring speeches aimed at raising the profile of branch leaders and just about anyone interested in pushing Hayes off the top of the heap. The more militant end of Royal Mail’s workforce, notably from Liverpool, were furious that having brought Britain’s postal network to a standstill, Hayes was asking union members to accept most of the proposals put forward by Royal Mail bosses and return to work. With it being conference week, CWU leader Billy Hayes is expected to deliver more fighting talk to demonstrate that he still has the strength of character to remain in the job, but not everyone thinks he has. Some are even threatening to turn up at the conference and tell Hayes what they really think of him.

On the other side of the coin, the Labour party depends rather heavily on union money and already effectively bankrupt, the union is likely to push the Labour party against the ropes to try and scupper attempts to part-privatise Royal Mail.

Trying to establish just how much of Royal Mail’s downturn in business is due to the rise in email use, increased competition, or lack of confidence in the wake of strike action, isn’t easy, but postal deregulaton has undoubtedly made things worse. An independent review this year, in combination with input from Postcomm, Postwatch, and rival operators, made it clear that deregulation was having little impact in terms of increased quality and choice for small business and consumers and the prospect of postal companies fighting it out on deliveries is practically zilch.

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Post Office Network must be sustainable warns The National Federation of Subpostmasters (UK)

Posted by | Jun 3, 2008 | |

The National Federation of Subpostmasters says it welcomes a report from the Business & Enterprise Committee which acknowledges the threat to the post office network if subpostmasters lose the right to handle state pensions and benefits.

The Committee’s report on the future of the post office network backs claims by the NFSP that the loss of the Post Office Card Account (POCA) would have a devastating impact.

The Federation has warned that up to 3,000 post offices could be forced to shut if the contract to run the successor to the current POCA contract is lost. A decision on who has won the POCA 2 tender is expected this summer.

Of the 24 million visits made to post offices every week, 6.5 million are made by POCA customers, highlighting the importance of the POCA contract to subpostmasters.

The NFSP also backs concerns raised by the Committee on the threat to the post office network from proposals to break up Royal Mail Group.

With income from Royal Mail transactions making up the largest part of subpostmasters pay, the Federation is concerned about the effect this break up would have on this vital source of income.

In addition, the NFSP supports the Committee’s demand for the need to safeguard against further post office closures after Network Change.

The Federation has reluctantly accepted the closure of up to 2,500 post offices under Network Change in order to achieve a viable network, but states that there should be no further closures.

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Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for South and West Wales

Posted by | Jun 3, 2008 | |

Post Office Ltd today (Tuesday, 03 June 2008) opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for the South and West Wales area. In line with the criteria and factors set by the UK Government in its Response Document (DTI The Post Office Network, Government response to public consultation May 2007 – www.berr.gov.uk/consultants), the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 291 Post Office® branches across the South and West Wales area, including establishing 19 new innovative Outreach service points, but to close 40 existing branches.

Under the proposals 99.4% of the area’s population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The local public consultation on the Area Plan Proposal for South and West Wales will commence on 03 June 2008.

The closing date for feedback in respect of the local public consultation is therefore 14 July 2008.

South and West Wales is diverse in nature from the urban, predominantly industrial areas of Bridgend, Port Talbot, Swansea and Neath to the rural, agricultural heartlands of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. 53% of the population live in rural communities and 47% in urban areas. In order to meet the Government’s access criteria and avoid undue hardship, Post Office Ltd is proposing a future Network in the region comprising 87 branches in urban towns and cities and 204 branches in rural areas.

The defined as deprived have been carefully considered in this Area Plan Proposal, reflecting the specific national criteria set by the Government to give greater safeguards on the accessibility of branches in these communities. Some 31.4% of the area’s total population live in deprived communities, 18.8% of them in urban areas and 12.6% in rural areas. This proposal for future network provision in South and West Wales provides for 42 branches being located in urban deprived communities.

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Decisions on Northern Ireland Post Office® branches

Posted by | Jun 3, 2008 | |

Post Office Ltd today (Tuesday, 3 June) announced decisions on the future of Post Office® branches across Northern Ireland following a six-week public consultation that ended on 12 May 2008.

Post Office services will be provided through a network of 496 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government and ensures that over 94.1% of the population in Northern Ireland will see no change.

The plan confirmed today means that 38 branches will close in Northern Ireland with the first closures scheduled to take place in July 2008. These branches were detailed in the Area Plan proposal published on 1 April 2008. Post Office Limited is also confirming the creation of 53 outreach Post Office services.

Four branches originally proposed for closure – Parkhall Post Office, Strathroy Post, The Throne Post Office and Attical Post Office, which was originally proposed for replacement by an outreach service, – will now remain open following a review of the issues raised during public consultation.

During the six-week public consultation, Post Office Limited received approximately 4,500 responses and attended 97 meetings with customers and their representatives to understand customers’ concerns and to ensure that all the information provided by customers formed part of the final decision regarding each affected branch.

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