Fears mount that postal jobs are threatened

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 18 Nov 2008, 15:08

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Fears-mount-t ... 4703190.jp

By Emma Broom
Preston's postal depot has survived a Royal Mail cull, but fears are mounting that jobs could be under threat.
Hundreds of workers at the sorting office in Pittman Way, Fulwood, have been balloted for strike action.

Union bosses are concerned the planned closure of five North West mail centres could have a knock-on effect on the Preston depot.

Royal Mail plans a shake-up of its operations, with the axe falling on centres in Bolton, Oldham, Crewe, Stockport and Liverpool.

Work from Bolton, Oldham and Stockport will be transferred to Manchester, while a new centre in Warrington will take the mail from Liverpool and Crewe.

Preston will be asked to handle some mail currently processed in Bolton, and staff could be transferred to Preston. But union bosses fear temporary and casual staff in Preston could be replaced by permanent workers from other areas.

Andy Tatchell, branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in North Lancashire and Cumbria, said there were "grave concerns" caused by a lack of information over the proposals.

He said: "They've been talking about the principle for a while now, but Royal Mail have still not properly outlined what the plans are.

"It would have a knock-on effect on the other two offices (Preston and Manchester) simply because there would be a major movement of traffic (mail to be processed), and people follow the traffic.You could get Preston people displaced by people from elsewhere.

"Straight away, the overtime disappears and money that people rely on for paying their mortgages, so it's extremely unsettling until we know what they're planning."

Mr Tatchell said the ballot was temporarily on hold while the union held talks at a national level with Royal Mail bosses.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We are currently talking to our permanent people at affected centres to determine options available to them in respect of the transfer of work to and from other locations."