Posties take delivery of 'efficiency savings'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.hawick-news.co.uk/news/Posti ... 4807094.jp

POSTAL workers in the town are the latest to face an uncertain future as a result of huge cost-saving measures throughout the company.
A meeting was held on Tuesday morning with all staff where it is understood plans were announced to cut 10 per cent of hours in offices across the country as part of "efficiency savings".

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail told the Hawick News that no concrete decisions for the Hawick branch had been made as yet, but admitted that the company was looking to operate more efficiently, although she stressed the service to the public would remain the same and there would be no compulsory redundancies.

However, one postman, who did not want to be named, said himself and almost 50 other members of staff in Hawick feared the worst.

He said: "If they're going to cut hours then people's jobs are going to go, although nobody's admitted that yet. It just seems common sense that that's what would happen.

"I don't even think the management in Hawick know how they're going to cut the hours because we're already struggling to finish our work on time as it is.

"Obviously the reception the news got wasn't very good. Morale is really low as it is and this has just made it a lot worse."

The government this week paved the way for part-privatisation of Royal Mail, following the publishing of a report warning of the financial pressures on the postal operator.

Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, backed the recommendation of the independent Hooper review that Royal Mail needs an injection of private sector capital. But he ruled out full privatisation.

The report by Richard Hooper confirmed the company is technically bankrupt because of its £7billion-plus pension liability.

However, a Royal Mail spokeswoman, moved to allay local concerns

She said: "There are no specific proposals in relation to the Hawick delivery office.

"Royal Mail, across the country, are looking at making the company more efficient as we are operating in a competitive marketplace and the UK mails market is declining overall at the rate of 2.5 per cent every year. Royal Mail has no option but to become a modern, efficient business in order to compete effectively in today's climate."

MEANWHILE, Woolworths will be closed by January 5.
It is understood staff at the High Street store have not been given an official date for the closure, but administrators Deloitte confirmed this week that all 807 outlets across the country would shut for good just five days into the new year. The shutdown will affect almost a dozen workers at the Hawick branch.