CWU critical of Post Office Ltd's franchise plans

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The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has released a statement to say that Post Office Ltd’s plans to franchise a further 17 crown post offices shows “poor judgement” and should be immediately abandoned.

The company announced in February 2013 that 70 of its directly-run crown post offices would be franchised to a private operator out of a then network of 373 branches.

Today Post Office has franchised 31 crowns, with a big proportion of these now being run by high street retailer WH Smith.

Of the remaining 70, 12 crown post offices have been removed from the franchise list and will remain as they are but a further 17 remain in limbo whilst the Post Office continues to look for a suitable partner.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary said: “The Post Office must abandon its plans to continue with its disastrous franchising programme. There are still 17 crown post offices which can remain in the network, and will be able to continue to provide vital services to local communities.

“It is unforgivable that the Post Office has left staff working in these crown post offices in a state of uncertainty for nearly two years. It shows poor judgement and is grossly unfair on employees who don’t know whether their jobs are safe or not.

“Every time the Post Office moves to franchise a branch it goes through the rigmarole of consulting with the local community, only to go ahead regardless of the significant objections. Essentially the public consultation is virtually meaningless and a complete waste of public money when the Post Office refuse to take residents, employees and the union’s opinions into consideration. People want a professional and reliable service and the sooner the Post Office realises this and stops selling them off, the better.”

The Communication Workers Union represents over 200,000 members in the telecoms and postal sectors.