Saturday post under threat as R M told to slash jobs

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 03 Nov 2008, 14:17

Now Saturday post is under threat as Royal Mail is told to slash 30,000 jobs in cost-cutting drive

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... drive.html

Postal deliveries on Saturdays are under threat because the Royal Mail could be forced to axe up to 30,000 jobs in a cost-cutting drive.

Richard Hooper, a former civil servant conducting an independent review of the postal service for the Government, has told MPs and peers that half of the group's 69 sorting offices could be shut.

Labour MPs and unions said the shake-up could see deliveries and collections to homes and businesses reduced to five days a week.

The possibility of scrapping deliveries on Saturdays will also heighten fears for the future of the 'universal service' - the Royal Mail's commitment to deliver letters to every address in Britain at the same price.

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On a bleak weekend for the service, MPs also warned that up to 9,000 post offices could close if Royal Mail loses a £200million Government contract.

Fears are mounting that the group will lose the right to run the Post Office Card Account, which processes millions of pensions and benefits payments. Instead, it could be given to rival bidder PayPoint.

Many post offices make 20 per cent of their income from the card. Losing it could force thousands into closure.

The Royal Mail is already in the middle of a programme to close 2,500 of its 14,000 post offices, while there are fears thousands more could go after 2010.

The threats to Saturday collections and deliveries were raised after Mr Hooper, the former deputy chairman of Ofcom, briefed politicians ahead of the publication of his review of the cashstrapped Royal Mail.

Sources confirmed he suggested closing half of the service's 69 sorting offices, which employ around 60,000.

Mr Hooper spoke of his admiration for the German Bundespost, which operates with far fewer main depots.

MPs and unions last night warned this would 'inevitably' lead to a reduction in postal services.

Lindsay Hoyle, a Labour MP on the Commons' influential business and enterprise committee, said: 'There is a fear that cutting sorting offices and staff will lead to a cut in services, and for some people this would mean putting the Saturday delivery under threat.

'But people and businesses enjoy and need Saturday deliveries - it is a requirement and a necessity. People receive all sorts of things on Saturdays that they can't wait until Monday for.'

He added: 'Just because Richard Hooper says something does not mean it will happen. There would be plenty of opposition.' The Communications Workers' Union said: 'The public still wants a six-day-a-week universal mail service. It will not tolerate less.'

Mr Hooper, who is due to report his findings to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson as early as this month, said: 'The story about my review is speculation. The Government has not yet received our report.

'Our terms of reference are to maintain the universal postal service. That is what our recommendations are designed to do.'

However, in an interim report last May he said the 'status quo could not be maintained'.

A spokesman for the Department for Business said: 'We are committed to maintaining a universal postal service that meets the changing needs of consumers and businesses.'

Post by **fmrPOSTIE** » 03 Nov 2008, 15:07

Hooper's opinion will not be taken as gospel, lets make that clear. And any attempt to get rid of Saturday deliveries should be opposed, RM are one of a few postal operators that DO offer Sat post, i'll defend this to the hilt.

paulsmd · Post by **paulsmd** » 03 Nov 2008, 17:02

What do you think of the loss of Saturday`s dev`s.
As reported in today`s Daily Mail. :mfo

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 03 Nov 2008, 17:04

On your own? Blimey.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 03 Nov 2008, 17:18

fmrPOSTIE wrote:Hooper's opinion will not be taken as gospel, lets make that clear. And any attempt to get rid of Saturday deliveries should be opposed, RM are one of a few postal operators that DO offer Sat post, i'll defend this to the hilt.

Hooper has made the point that his remit is to protect the USO, NOT Saturday deliveries. IMHO the USO will be preserved at least for the foreseeable future but I seriously doubt we are going to be able to sustain Saturday deliveries - has the take up on SG specials been a raging success? and more to the point businesses close on Saturday in the main and so an SG is pointless in many instances. There may well be a gradual winding down of deliveries on Saturday by returning to an earlier system of 1st class mail and due date coupled with park and loop covering a larger area, perhaps on overtime. Rather than be against the loss of Saturday the union should be looking at that aspect as an avenue to negotiate a shorter working week - job losses? certainly but I believe that is inevitable under the current climate but we could surely lessen the impact.

There is a lot of conjecture which will only be put to bed when the report is finally released.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 03 Nov 2008, 17:24

One door closes, another opportunity opens.

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 03 Nov 2008, 17:35

The key thing to remember on saturdays is that EU law already allows for M-F deliveries so the only obstacle is persuading parliment voting to scrap saturdays. If it does come to a vote in parliment It will be interesting to see if its a whip issue or a free vote.

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 03 Nov 2008, 17:41

Popular in my office everybody wants a saturday off.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 03 Nov 2008, 18:00

Think of six work collegues includeing yourselfs and then decided who will not be working with each other next year it could be YOU!.

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 03 Nov 2008, 18:04

RM could save lots of money if they just delivered to urban areas for four weeks in December

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » 03 Nov 2008, 18:29

k979aaa wrote:Think of six work collegues includeing yourselfs and then decided who will not be working with each other next year it could be YOU!.

nah, just means all the vacancies will be swallowed up. If it did mean redundancies you'd get trampled in the rush..... Could be the making of most offices!!

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 03 Nov 2008, 18:55

k979aaa wrote:Think of six work collegues includeing yourselfs and then decided who will not be working with each other next year it could be YOU!.

They want out, if the money is right members in my office will sign on the dotted line.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 03 Nov 2008, 19:20

Big Daz wrote:
k979aaa wrote:Think of six work collegues includeing yourselfs and then decided who will not be working with each other next year it could be YOU!.

They want out, if the money is right members in my office will sign on the dotted line.

And do you think :cfo & :lfo would pay the staff off?. I would hazzard a bet they will hand a thirty hour contract to forty hour staff and most would take it in the current sittuation of riseing unemployment!. And the partime staff without full contract's would be let go.

bogstandard · Post by **bogstandard** » 04 Nov 2008, 09:54

Under eu regs all countries are commited to provide a minimum of 5 day, one price goes anywhere, to every address, mon-fri service. Countries are not allowed to reduce the service they currently offer just to adhere to the minimum requirements. e.g. remove the saturday element.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 04 Nov 2008, 11:25

If Rm really wanted an efficient service then they could just deliver once per year and anyone who wants it more often then they'll have to pay extra,that way you get rid of nearly all the frontline staff and only employ management

This is a joke just incase any managers are watching and decide it's a good idea

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