Post service fears after Royal Mail shake up

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A MOVE that could leave Comet country postal workers out of a job and services cut has been approved by Royal Mail.


Despite opposition by union members, the delivery office in Hitchin will close and move to Stevenage, while the New Town’s sorting office will go to a major new centre in Hemel Hempstead, after Royal Mail bosses gave the money-saving project the green light.

The company estimates the reshuffle will mean 300 jobs will be lost out of the 4,500 in the wider Hertfordshire area, while travel to sites further afield may mean workers have to give up their jobs.

Steve Butts, area delivery rep for the Communication Worker’s Union, said: “We are really concerned about our workers in Stevenage. We have an understanding of no compulsory redundancies and we are going to work with Royal Mail. But there is a transport situation – there are only two bus services to Hemel and no trains, you have to go into London and back.”

Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, Sharon Taylor, said this could threaten jobs.

“I think it’s a great shame to see jobs moving from Stevenage. A journey to Hemel is often too far to consider, especially if they have caring responsibilities in Stevenage. Staff wages are not particularly high and it’s a long way to travel and not particularly easy to get to by public transport.

“Staff have worked very hard to keep the productivity up, it’s a great shame that they are faced with losing their jobs.”

Mr Butts added that the Hitchin operation was “the shop front” of Royal Mail in the town and what will replace some services, such as picking up packages, is not clear.

He said: “We are concerned about services that Hitchin residents will now receive when collection of business mail goes. There’s no detail of what’s going to replace that.”

But Royal Mail area director Rob Jensen said the decision represents a significant investment to modernise the company which has suffered a significant fall in business over the last five years due to a rise in digital communications.

He said: “The new mail centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art automation which can sort mail more efficiently and much faster, which will enable us to give better service and value to our customers. It will also provide our people with a more modern working environment.

“We have consulted our unions before reaching this decision and we have a great track record for managing such changes. We continue to work together to help our employees through this change and we are confident that everyone who wants to remain in Royal Mail will be able to do so.”

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“The new mail centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art automation which can sort mail more efficiently and much faster , which will enable us to give better service and value to our customers . It will also provide our people with a more modern working environment .

[Pat Ostman]

“The new mail centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art automation which can sort mail more efficiently and much faster , which will enable us to give better service and value to our customers . It will also provide our people with a more modern working environment .