Tag: UK

Decision On Three Post Office Branches On The Western Isles

Posted by | Jun 17, 2008 | |

Post Office Ltd today (Tuesday) announced final decisions on the future of three Post Office branches in the Network Change programme for the Northern and Western Isles.

The decision follows a period of further review after the six-week public consultation, which ended on April 16 2008.

The branch at Skigersta on the Isle of Lewis has been withdrawn as a result of feedback received during consultation and during the period of further review and will now remain open.

The closures of Bragar on the Isle of Lewis and Northton on the Isle of Harris are confirmed today and they will close at the end of July at the earliest.

These two closures will mean that a total of 15 branches will close under the Northern and Western Isles plan. Post Office® services will continue to be provided through a network of 113 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the UK Government and ensures that 97% of the area’s population will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

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Royal Mail paid twice for letters to charity (UK)

Posted by | Jun 17, 2008 | |

The Royal Mail is often being paid twice for donors’ letters to charities, Third Sector (June 11) reveals.
Many charities supply Freepost envelopes to supporters but tell them that if they use a stamp it will save the charity money. But the Royal Mail has introduced an automated system for sorting Freepost envelopes that cannot tell whether envelopes are stamped. So unless their staff spot the stamps, the charity will pay postage and the donor will pay for the stamp.
“Royal Mail has failed to properly communicate to charities the change in circumstances,” says Lindsay Boswell, the Chief Executive of the Institute of Fundraising.
WaterAid has stopped asking donors to put stamps on Freepost envelopes and Samaritans has changed its wording from “if you use a stamp it will save us money” to “it could save us money”. Twelve charities from the Direct Marketers in Fundraising Group met Royal Mail in March to find a solution but say the company cancelled a follow-up meeting. A Royal Mail spokesman
A task force will study how charities can deliver more welfare-to-work initiatives.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) jointly launched the task force, reports Third Sector Online.
The voluntary sector missed out on most DWP contracts to provide back-to-work services for people on incapacity benefit last year. The task force will look at the barriers the sector faces.

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Action looming at Royal Mail

Posted by | Jun 17, 2008 | |

Postal workers could start a national strike later this year after delegates at last week’s CWU union conference voted unanimously for action against attacks on their pensions, threats to shut scores of offices, and the menace of privatisation.

The CWU estimates that around 40,000 jobs are at risk from management plans.

Deputy general secretary Dave Ward told delegates that the government’s liberalisation of the postal service stood behind the attacks.

“We know that we can’t simply strike our way out of this situation – and that there must be a political solution to the problems we face – but if management don’t back off, we will ballot for strike action,” he said.

He added that the timetable for the strike “will be designed to maximise pressure on the company and the government”, but that the union would offer talks before a ballot is implemented.

Bob Gibson, the CWU assistant secretary outdoor, said that the coming dispute would be even more important than last year’s.

In closed session several delegates warned the union’s leadership not to flag up compromises before the start of any negotiations.

It is expected that the union will initiate a ballot for strike action in August, with action likely from September onwards.

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Postal unions warn of strikes over post office closures

Posted by | Jun 16, 2008 | |

A postal workers’ union delivered an ultimatum to the Government, saying there will be escalating strike action unless it abandons plans to axe 2,500 post offices and franchise out 83 Crown Offices.
The Communication Workers Union assistant secretary Andy Furey said “the Government can’t afford not to support this vital public service”.
In a letter to MPs, the union warns: “If a settlement is not reached, an industrial action ballot is inevitable.”
David Drew, Labour MP for Stroud, blamed Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier and chairman Alan Leighton.
He said they had “taken Manchester United and turned them into Derby County”

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