more job losses looming

[dinho1]

TAKEN FROM THE SUN ONLINE TODAY

ROYAL Mail has begun talks about a near £500million cost-cutting drive that will trigger thousands of job cuts.

The company has written to staff asking if they would be willing to accept voluntary redundancy — or switch from a full-time to part-time role.

It wants to slash its budget by up to ten per cent — or £470million — a year. The move comes just weeks after Royal Mail announced its best set of results for 20 years.

The Communication Workers Union last night slammed the group and called for urgent meetings with executives.

One source said: “There’s modernising and there’s slash and burn.”

Royal Mail has axed 50,000 staff in the past seven years and has talked of the need for more cuts among its remaining 180,000 employees.

Union officials last month warned they believed up to 50,000 more workers could be laid off if the Government pushed ahead with plans for a part-privatisation.

Royal Mail last night denied claims that 16,000 jobs had already been earmarked for the axe. A spokesman said: “We have made absolutely no announcement about any job losses. But we want to work with our people so we take into account their wishes and preferences as Royal Mail continues to modernise.”

The firm said it faced “challenges” from falling mail volumes and increased competition, especially from email and the internet as broadband use expands.

[jafferpants]

EVR Well, Well, It seems all my prayer's have been answerd. Bring it on!!!

[Puppetmaster]

Is this a fact ,not had any letters from RM except pay slip,no mail localy is all over the palce due to bad weather.?

[krussel]

Its fact Its what nornally happens when RM announce something they know will not be liked or cause trouble. You read it in the paper or someone asks you about it on your round then you go in work and have to ask. Treated like mushrooms etc. You will get a letter from RM telling you how great its going to be and how much better your working day will be with 1in 10 less staff etc.

[fmrPOSTIE]

16,000 isn't as bad as 30+000's jobs that were predicted to go. If mail centres are merged etc.. than that probably is about right.

[pickaname]

Had this letter today. Tore it up. I wont sign anything unless its gone by the union first.

[Truth]

whats the union going to do
People are queuing up, they were still outside the D.O.M office when I left

[RTI]

it was revealed that this "cost cutting" operation is codenamed tiger. wtf is that about?
its typical royal mail, instead of trying to make a profit like a normal business would by selling more products, raising prices etc, they let staff go and close offices down, and then think that they have made money when all they have really done is bring costs down. so stupid.

[yokel]

This story is about 2 months old as far as my office is concerned we have had letters asking if anyone wants to change their hours from 40 to 30 and we are now going through the voluntary redundancy process and applicants (lots of them) are waiting to find out who has been successful.