Portadown - New post system a ‘disaster’

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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CHANGES to the Royal Mail system are resulting in undelivered mail and later deliveries in the Portadown area, local postmen have claimed.

A number of postmen, who do not wish to be identified, have told the Portadown Times of their concerns for the town’s postal service and the detrimental effect on workers’ morale.

They say deliveries are too big to be completed on time and many postmen are bringing mail back to the sorting office, having run out of time to deliver it.

However Royal Mail have said that with any new system some initial disruption is possible.

One postman described the new system as “a disaster”. He said, “On one delivery I know of in Corcrain, residents received no mail last Friday (June 3). Most of the ‘town’ deliveries are leaving at least one hour’s worth of post every day. They simply cannot do the delivery in the allotted time.”

The new system came into operation nearly three weeks ago and changes include later start times, sharing of routes and vans, and the use of trolleys rather than the traditional post bags, for health and safety reasons.

Another postman described how his usual morning start of 5.30am has been changed to 7am and part of another delivery route has been added to his existing route. He said, “On top of this, postmen are also having to share vans and use the trolley, which slows you down.

“I’m not against change or progress and I know Royal Mail will say these are just teething problems but I can’t see how they will settle down. They are asking people to do the impossible.

“Postmen are having to stay out an hour or an hour-and-a-half over their finishing time, and yes, they get overtime pay for it, but most would prefer to finish at the proper time. A lot of them have family and other commitments and can’t work overtime.”

He said, “Some areas, including parts of the Gilford Road, didn’t get any mail last Friday and I know that some postmen have been handing part of their delivery back to the manager before they go out as they know they won’t have time to deliver it all.

“Others are handing back part of their delivery when they finish.

“The businesses all want their post early and some ordinary households who previously got their post at 9am or 10am are not getting it now until 2.30pm or 3pm.”

A third postman said new maps had been drawn up but the new routes were too long and postmen couldn’t cope with the volume of deliveries. He said, “For the first time ever I have had to bring mail back, and I don’t feel good about that. I know of two other postal workers, who share a route, and they are two of the hardest working postal staff I know, and even they have had to bring mail back.

“It is putting unbearable stress on people who have always taken a pride in their job.”

Another said, “I used to really enjoy my job but now I dread going in every day. Morale is at an all-time low. Previously I would have worked over my time every day as I felt an obligation and a duty to my customers. Now I do not because of the way in which the postmen and women are being treated.”

Sean Hagan of JP Hagan Solicitors said his company has been protesting for years about the postal service and remained “very unhappy at the extremely poor town delivery service”.

Mr Hagan said, “When I started my solicitor’s practice in Portadown in 1974, mail was never delivered later than 7am. In recent years, the only early morning deliveries are on Saturdays.

“As one of the largest town centre users, Royal Mail has persistently refused to provide an acceptable service – not just for us, but for other town centre businesses. Post management is aware that solicitors over the last 10 years have been using a faster cheaper private service, known as DX – a service born of necessity.”

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said the changes introduced in Portadown are part of Royal Mail’s £2 billion UK-wide investment to modernise the business.

She said, “The way in which we communicate with each other has changed dramatically. Unfortunately, fewer letters are now posted every day and Royal Mail needs to organise its delivery routes to be as efficient as possible.

“We also deliver more larger items and so we are investing in new equipment to carry these items to customers even more securely. The new equipment also reduces the risk of injury to our postmen and women from carrying heavier mail bags.

“As with any change, some initial disruption is possible while we adapt to the new ways of working. We would like to thank customers for their patience and reassure them that Royal Mail is fully committed to providing a high quality of service that is as reliable and friendly as customers have come to expect in the Portadown area over many years.”

The spokesperson added that in Portadown Royal Mail will continue to deliver in the morning and for a longer period during the day. She said, “Many customers will continue to get their mail by lunchtime. The time customers receive mail will depend on where they live on the new delivery route. This may be later or possibly earlier than current delivery times. When mail volumes vary, we may need to adjust delivery arrangements and times.”

[youwot!!!!!]

blah,blah,blah.haven't we heard this before?
oh yes,everytime p&l goes live in another delivery office.

[DGP1]

blah,blah,blah.haven't we heard this before?
oh yes,everytime p&l goes live in another delivery office.

Stepford spokespeople

[walkthewalk]

“It is putting unbearable stress on people who have always taken a pride in their job.”

Many a true word said in gest

[WHITEANT]

Its just aswell the mail volume is down