Jobs fears stir up new postal row

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://tinyurl.com/22jpop

Sep 27 2007

By Sinead Keller


FURIOUS postal workers will hold an emergency meeting next Wednesday over Royal Mail's plans to review Coventry's postal delivery service.

Members of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) say up to 40 jobs could be lost which would leave postmen and women across the city struggling to cope.

This comes on top of a recent announcement by the company to cut Sunday and bank holiday collections, as well as closing the Bishop Street sorting office.

They are also angry about plans to close the main Hertford Street branch and move counter services to the WH Smith store in the West Orchards shopping centre.

Mick Kavanagh, from the CWU, said: "I received a letter from Royal Mail saying they would be carrying out a review of Coventry deliveries by executive action, which means they are doing it without agreement.


Story continues Continue story
ADVERTISEMENT

"We could lose between 20 and 40 jobs, which will have a massive impact on services in the city.

"We quite clearly have no other option other than to take further industrial action over and above the current national dispute.

"We expect about 500 people to come to the meeting next week, as this proposal has already been rejected by our members.

"This will come into force on October 22, so they have effectively given us only 28 days notice."

Mr Kavanagh said union members were already angry over pay and pension changes.

He said: "Attacking jobs as well is a massive blow for workers and for members of the public."

* Two national 48-hour strikes have already been announced by the CWU for October 5 and October 8.

What Royal Mail says...

A ROYAL MAIL spokesman said: "Changes to the duty structure at the Coventry Delivery Office in Bishop Street, have been devised with the input of our postmen and women and a CWU representative.

"There will be no job losses as a result of the changes and deliveries will continue to be completed in line with Royal Mail specification of around lunchtime in towns and by mid-afternoon in rural areas."