RM proposals could see sorting offices in North East close

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail proposals could see sorting offices in Darlington, Middlesbrough and York close

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ROYAL Mail bosses and unions are in talks over proposals to shake up the North-East mail centre network, it has emerged.

Representatives from the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) will meet with Royal Mail chiefs on Monday to discuss plans to close the Teesside Mail Centre, in Middlesbrough, and Darlington Mail Centre, and transfer work to Tyneside Mail Centre, in Gateshead.

We are going to try and come up with alternative proposals to save as many mail centres as possible to lessen the impact on our members.

Bob Maguire of the CWU
It is understood that it is also proposed to close the sorting office in York, with work being transferred to Leeds.

No compulsory redundancies are envisaged if the proposals go ahead and staff would be given the opportunity to transfer.

The Northern Echo understands the proposals are part of a wider shake-up affecting the whole region, from Hull to Newcastle, with six out of the nine mail centres proposed to shut.

Last night, the CWU said they would be looking closely at Royal Mail's facts and figures in order to come up with alternative proposals to save as many mail centres as possible and lessen the impact on members.

Bob Maguire, from the CWU, said a 12-week consultation period had begun, where the union would scrutinise the plans and come up with possible alternative solutions.

"The CWU are going to look at all the facts and figures. We are going to try and come up with alternative proposals to save as many mail centres as possible to lessen the impact on our members," he said.

Royal Mail told The Northern Echo there no compulsory redundancies were envisaged and affected staff would be able to transfer into other areas of the business, should the proposals go ahead.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We are not planning compulsory redundancies and we hope that, given existing turnover rates and with flexibility, everyone who wants to continue to work for Royal Mail will be able to do so. We will be talking to all our staff on an individual basis about the options open to them."

He said the plans were part of a national modernisation programme, in response to falling mail volume.

"In line with the national agreement Royal Mail has reached with the CWU, we are reviewing our processing and some delivery operations in Yorkshire and the North East of England to make sure we have the right sites to accommodate the world class technology and equipment being rolled out as part of our £2 billion modernisation programme and to adapt to a market in which 13 million fewer letters are sent every day compared to five years ago and in which volumes continue to fall."

[dblad]

I got a letter about it today. There are 9 mail centres in the North East region, Leeds, York, Bradford, Tyneside, Teesside, Darlington, Sheffield, Hull and Doncaster.
They are proposing to transfer work from Darlington and Teesside mail centres into an extended Tyneside mail centre.
Transferring work from Bradford and York mail centres into an extended Leeds mail centre.
Transferring work from Doncaster mail centre and subject to the completion of further work, transferring work from Hull mail centre into an extended Sheffield mail centre.
However if the proposal goes ahead, it is unlikely that there will be any mail centre closures before 2012.

[Lounge Lizard]

Then in a few years Tyneside, Leeds and Sheffield will merge into a massive North-easten Mail Centre then in another few years that and all the others will close, all the work being taken on by a National Mail Centre and by this time all deliveries will have been put back to between 1pm and 6pm Mark my words.

[RelocatedRick]

As a casualty of the North West Review, i can tell you the consultation is just a bit of window dressing for the media etc. Put it another way it is a total sham and means nothing.

They have already made their minds up what they are going to do, and any counter proposals, however sensible will be thrown back in your face without a second thought.

They will treat representations from MPs and councillors with contempt. MPs will be barred from the premises if they come to speak to staff, get used to the pavement lads and lasses. Offers/deals from the council will be rejected by return of post.

If you are going to fight, then be ready to fight like your families and your futures depend on it. And be ready for the dirtiest battle you've ever had and hit them hard, don't blink, don't be gentlemanly and f**k the queensbury rules!

Believe me there is no level to which Royal Mail will not sink; they will lie, cheat and "our people" are the least of their concerns, oh and they will f**k everything up with their usual talent for incompetence.

Just get stuck into them and don't ever give up until the gates are locked. It's going to be long dirty and painful.

If you think I am being a drama queen, about 6 weeks I was stood in a church with dozens of my colleagues at the funeral of one of our engineers who took his own life because of the stress and anxiety caused by the North West closures.

[petercostello]

Could i ask if what happened exactly to the people in the north west review were some forced to go to deliveries or made to take redundancy as i work at darlington and face a similar fate.Also was the procedure done under seniority.