Virus being used as excuse for postie job losses

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THE coronavirus is being used as an excuse for postie job losses, a Dunfermline councillor has claimed.

Councillor Garry Haldane, who also works as a postman, fears that potentially 30 jobs could go after the Royal Mail decided to scrap Saturday letter deliveries until further notice.

The delivery giant said it would halt deliveries "temporarily" on Saturdays, starting last weekend.

However, the CWU union believe this is a broader assault on postal workers and a through-the-back-door move that could cause 20,000 job losses across the UK.


Cllr Haldane said: "As we have so many people off, the Royal Mail are saying it's difficult to operate.

"But it's a cloak and dagger move and they're using coronavirus as an excuse.

"There's no reason why Saturday deliveries need to stop and just how long will this go on for?

"There's been no consultation with the union or the public.

"And will they just say to the Government after this that they'll just carry on with no Saturday deliveries?"

As the postal service is normally a six-days-a-week delivery, some staff work as a floater to cover the shifts of those with regular rounds who can only work five days a week.

These jobs are thought to be at the most risk under the new measures.

"I think they will be looking to do this in the long term and the pandemic situation has provided a way to push this through," Cllr Haldane said.

"Saturday is the third-busiest mail day of the week so will they cut quieter days too?

"Dunfermline is coping with the staffing levels and there is no reason why they should stop this."

Cllr Haldane warned there could be industrial action in the future.

He explained: "The CWU said they would hold off from action until there was normality again and now this has happened.

"It's just nonsense.

"It's difficult enough for local communities, never mind more potential job losses."

Royal Mail says it will continue to provide its letter delivery service from Monday to Friday as normal and that customers "should continue to post both letters and parcels as usual on Saturday".


It will continue to collect all mail from businesses, post offices and post boxes, it said.

Shane O'Riordain, managing director of marketing, regulation and corporate affairs at Royal Mail, said: "Our postmen and postwomen are working very hard across the UK in challenging conditions.

"As we said at the start of the coronavirus crisis, there will be some disruption to services.

"We understand the importance of the postal service in keeping the UK connected at this time.

"We have also listened to our hard-working colleagues who have asked us to ease the additional burden on them if possible. As a result, we are making some temporary changes to postal services."

Royal Mail said it has been in dialogue with the Government and regulator Ofcom throughout the crisis and would keep the temporary change to postal arrangements under review.

A CWU spokesman said: "We will be seeking urgent discussions with the Government on this issue.

"The reduction of the Universal Service Obligation was a key factor in our live national strike ballot.

"The last thing we want to do is call strike action at this point but we will not sit back and see our members' jobs put at threat and the service to the public worsened."