LONG-SERVING staff have been made redundant following the privatisation of two Islington post offices.
All 14 workers at the Upper Street and Mount Pleasant postal hubs – some of whom had been in their jobs for more than 30 years – have left since the branches were taken over by a private company, Universal Office Equipment (UOE), last month.
Upper Street and Mount Pleasant are two of 56 branches across the country that were transferred into private management this year as part of a Post Office initiative to franchise all of its hubs, in order to protect them from outright closure.
But Communication Workers Union representative Clive Tickner told the Tribune that the loss of experienced staff – who were told not to speak to the press – is taking a toll.
“Between them, the staff had over 300 years’ experience. This has caused them a lot of stress and worry. Some of them still haven’t found jobs,” he said.
“Our biggest concern is the effect this has on the community. The staff in Islington were on first name terms with customers, but now this cherished institution has been privatised and the service has got worse.”
Mr Tickner added: “The Post Office string you a lie that it’s going to be the same with different people, but [new staff] don’t have the loyalty and the years of experience.”
In newly-franchised post offices across the country, just one former staff member has chosen to stay on with the new firm.
Earlier this year, Islington Liberal Democrats campaigned against the possible closure of the Upper Street and Mount Pleasant post offices, and in May they celebrated the news that the branches had been “saved” by the franchise plans.
But in August, Labour councillor Gary Heather raised concerns about the quality of postal services and working conditions of staff in a franchise model and urged the Post Office to retain control of its Islington hubs.
He told the Tribune: “It’s basically privatisation by stealth. The big picture is one of transference of public assets to private hands, and offloading costs from the public sector into the private.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “All staff at Upper Islington and Mount Pleasant directly managed post office branches were given the opportunity to transfer over to the new branch operator, UOE, on their existing terms and conditions under TUPE – Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) – or to take voluntary redundancy.
“New people have been recruited by the new operator to join the teams. The very experienced postmaster also has a number of branches in the London area and experienced staff, who have worked at other post offices, are now working at these branches.
“Training and support have been offered to all team members working in these branches.”