12 workers lose jobs just before Christmas as Stoke Post Office depot closes

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The Post Office has shut a collection and delivery service used by businesses in Stoke-on-Trent and further afield with the loss of 12 jobs.

The Cash Valuables in Transit (CVIT) depot in Leek Road, Stoke, has closed following a consultation.

It was originally set up for the internal Post Office network but for around a decade it also offered a cash and stock pick-up and drop-off service to companies across the UK.

The Post Office insists the closure will allow it to concentrate on supporting its 11,600 branches and reduce costs as it continues its 'journey towards becoming a commercially sustainable business'.

However, union members today described the decision as a 'travesty'.

Kev Clarke, chairman of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Midland No 7 branch and CWU sector supply chain representative, said: "The Post Office is in crisis, and has decided to come out of the external market.

"There's not much we can do about the closure of the Leek Road depot now but we are asking the Post Office to give us a guarantee that it will remain in the internal marketplace for the next five years.

"The workers' support for CWU was unbelievable and their solidarity saved the depot from planned closure in 2009."

The closure does not affect the Royal Mail Delivery Office based at the same site which is open to the general public.

CWU branch secretary Maxine Penkethman, from Bradeley, said: "The closure has meant the loss of good jobs in Stoke-on-Trent.

"There has been a massive closure programme across the country. For an area like Stoke-on-Trent to lose these jobs is a travesty. They are not going to be replaced.

"The depot had about 24 members of staff previously but they have slowly reduced over the years. On closure, there were just 12 members of staff. Some of them have found other jobs but most of them haven't.

"They showed solidarity even through strike action."

CWU regional director Paul Malyan added: "Everyone owns the Post Office and everyone is entitled to their say on something that belongs to them."

Nationally, nine CVIT depots have shut with the loss of more than 500 jobs.

The closure of the Stoke facility will mean companies have to go elsewhere to use the service and Post Office branches in the area will instead be supported by depots in Birmingham, Chester and Sheffield.

A Post Office spokesman said: "The CVIT depot is part of Post Office Supply Chain, our UK-wide logistics operation that collects, delivers and processes cash, valuables and stock.

"The closure of Stoke is part of wider changes we've been making to focus the operation on its core purpose of supporting Post Office branches, reduce costs and support our journey towards becoming a commercially sustainable business.

"Twelve colleagues from Stoke are leaving the business on voluntary redundancy as a result of these changes. We've carried out an extensive consultation process and have worked hard in recent months to support Stoke colleagues as they look to pursue alternative careers outside of the Post Office."