Royal mail come under fire at public meeting

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.monmouth-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=39997" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Concerned crowds gathered at a public meeting in Usk Memorial Hall last Thursday (4th November) to discuss the proposed closure of the town’s sorting office.

Royal Mail representatives came under fire by around 200 members of Usk’s public, as well as the sorting office’s employees, as they expressed their concerns about the proposed closure of Usk’s office and its relocation to Pontypool.

Present at the meeting was Monmouth MP David Davies, AM Nick Ramsay and Mayor of Usk Alec Leathwood.

In their opening statement, Heulyn Davies and Stuart Marsh from Royal Mail said that they owed it to their customers to explain the changes they are making as a business; the predominant reason being to ‘modernise the business to ensure its survival’.
The Beacon reported back in October that Royal Mail had originally said it planned to close Usk delivery office ‘on health and safety grounds and the need to improve the efficiency of its operations’.

Members of the public raised their concerns about the impact of the change on the environment, the time they receive their post, the future of Usk Post Office and whether the move will see their postal addresses change to a Torfaen code.
Issues raised by sorting office staff (pictured, below right) included the lack of consultation with them about the proposed move and the impact the change will have on the service they provide their customers.

[bexhil palace]

And no mention of declining mail volumes, will wonders never cease?

[dvbuk55]

Not a bad turnout really, 200 is about 10% of the population of Usk......................how long can small places like that think they can hang on - better get the terms and conditions on offer now because on privatisation places like that will go down like a row of skittles

[Brainache]

Has any terms and conditions been secured by the union for small office closures?
"I don`t have a car & no bus"- "Tough, see you at xx (20miles away) Monday morning"
"I wont get home for end of school"- "Tough,not our problem, see you 20 miles away Monday morning."
"My PT round wouln`t be viable with extra miles"- Tough, see you Monday morning on your new duty (25hrs sorting)- your rounds been absorbed".
I havn`t seen anything on here to say the above isn`t true - has the Union/management agreed to any consultation?