Harpenden staff want to keep delivery office in the town

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Furious staff at Harpenden’s delivery office are in talks over industrial action as they vow not to go down without a fight against Royal Mail’s decision to move it out of town.

Royal Mail sold the building in Station Road off this month and 52 members of staff will be gradually moved over to the St Albans office in September.

However, members of staff are angry and a ballot is currently going round the office to gain enough staff signatures for industrial action against Royal Mail’s decision.

The plan for industrial action, planned by the Communication Workers Union, is a last-ditch attempt to try and change Royal Mail’s mind.

Tom Walker, postal branch secretary of the northern Home Counties, said industrial action would not go ahead if Royal Mail was willing to sit down and negotiate - however, this was a last-ditch attempt.

He said: "If we get enough members on board, which is highly likely, we will begin to plan dates of industrial action in September.

"We don’t want to strike, but we hope Royal Mail will agree to sit round a negotiating table before it gets to industrial action.

"However, if not, we will have no other choice."

When the move was first announced last year, representatives from Royal Mail said the decision was taken because of a decline in mail volume and tough trading conditions.

The canteen has been pulled out of the sorting office in St Albans to make room for Harpenden members of staff.

However, Mr Walker said it would be "squashed and not fit for purpose".

He said: "We are determined to keep the Harpenden office in Harpenden."

The ballot to decide on staff industrial action will close on Tuesday, September 4.

The Review previously reported how staff from Harpenden delivery office collected a 10,000-signature petition against the plans.


Residents in Harpenden can collect items which cannot be delivered at the post office, also in Station Road.