Union fears over Exeter Post Office jobs

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ROYAL Mail has disputed claims that up to 45 jobs are to be shed or turned into part-time roles at its sorting office in Exeter.

Union representatives allegedly met with employees last week to discuss proposals which are understood to involve 35 sorting staff jobs at the Osprey Road office either being cut or reduced while 10 drivers who operate from the centre could also be affected.

But Royal Mail has strongly disputed the claims, insisting that it "absolutely does not recognise those figures".

A Royal Mail employee, who asked not to be named, said: "We were told that some jobs are going completely, some are being made part time. They're hoping to do that by the end of March.

"It was put to us in proposals to our union rep and put on our notice board. The reason, we are told, is economy savings. We're disgusted because we've operated within the budget.

"It could affect customers as it will affect the frequency of postbox collections.

"We're very angry about it. The union members will be having a meeting to discuss their reaction formally but we've not got a date yet. It will probably be within the next couple of weeks."

The allegations were made just days after the Communication and Workers Union, which represents Royal Mail workers, announced it was to hold a two-day summit with senior Royal Mail management after viewing leaked documents which suggested the firm is looking to make major jobs cuts to the workforce.

The plans are dubbed Project Tiger and, according to the CWU, show that the organisation wants to cut £20m by the end of March.

The CWU said that these cuts could see as many as 16,000 jobs go in sorting offices and mail depots in towns and cities across the UK.

Dave Ward, the CWU's deputy general secretary, said: "Royal Mail is pushing for an arbitrary 10 per cent cost saving for offices across the country. This is not agreed by the CWU and could have a huge impact on both job losses and a reduction of full-time jobs to part-time jobs."

The Royal Mail Group employs 180,000 staff.

Over the past seven years, 50,000 staff have lost their jobs.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We have absolutely no plans to cut 16,000 jobs but there is a programme to cut overheads and central costs which is not about our front-line people.

"We absolutely do not recognise the numbers suggested in Exeter. We have been in discussion with the regional union over efficiency improvements.

"We would, first and foremost, look to staff turnover — natural wastage — to reduce posts before compulsory redundancies were considered."

The CWU has also threatened to stop donating more than £1m a year to the Labour party if its part-privatisation plans for the Royal Mail go ahead.