Areas of Skelmersdale going days without mail and town's sorting office "close to breaking point", it has been claimed

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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AREAS of Skelmersdale are being left without mail for days on end due to on-going staffing issues at the town's sorting office in Glebe Road, which is close to “breaking point”, it has been claimed.

The Champion has been sent photographs of letters and parcels at the offices, which, it has been alleged, were due to be delivered to two areas in Skelmersdale on Monday, but had to be left for another day.

And postmen have said that residents in the town are not getting the service that they think that they are getting.

Employees are blaming the changes that have been made since privatisation and have accused Royal Mail bosses of being more interested “in making money.”

One postman said: “Royal Mail has said there is enough staff, so why are residents not getting letters and parcels?

“Staff on 39-hour contracts are being replaced with 20-hour contracts, which is all being done to save money. We are not providing a second-class service, let alone a first-class service.

“People are being brought in from Wigan to paper over the cracks. The area managers are newly-graduated students who don't know Skelmersdale.

“On Monday there was two days of mail for Fairlie, Fawcett, Hartland and Falkland not delivered.

“Since privatisation three years ago, Royal Mail has just been interested in making money.”

And a family member of someone who works at Royal Mail added: “People are going without mail for days. Mail is not being delivered in the area because there is no one to cover it. The sorting office is close to breaking point.

“The staff can’t cover the work due to changes to their working routine. People leaving full-time positions are being replaced with part-time posts. Jobs are not being filled as well.

“The lads do not have the time to do the job. Postmen can't work past their hours. There is not enough time in the day.

“On Friday parts of Birch Green had not had the mail since Tuesday.

“People from Skelmersdale, Parbold and Up Holland not getting the mail as normal.

“Residents might be people waiting for job interviews or hospital appointments. It is not getting any better any time soon. People are not getting the service that they think that they are getting.

“It is bad to see that the mail is not getting out.”

The Communications Union, CWU, said there is a concern with postal offices throughout the country, and added there was a “resourcing” issue at the Skelmersdale site.

The CWU believe Royal Mail is saving money over quality, which was not the position before privatisation. They believe bosses are looking for a maximum return for shareholders rather than customers. The customers are the ones that are losing out, the CWU has commented.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail is investigating this matter.”

[Lincox]

No doubt the investigation will be headed by a certain M Turnbull who will make an announcement quoting the same dribble that she comes out with on every press release that Royal Mail make.

[maisymoo04]

someone took the bottom loop on the fitting in the picture only

[rubberbond]

Of course they are looking for maximum returns for shareholders ,that's what they are obliged to do,customers do not count for anythung in this brave new privatised world of ours. Someone's got to fund the chief executive's pay rise.

[enskied]

The same at ours, three days a week they get nothing. It is called a Lapsed duty. Only difference is ours is never left in the frame, it's tajen for a ride and brought back, that way the Dom marks the office as clear. Then some mug has to throw it all off again and the poor Posties that cop for it are delivering threedays mail on a wednesday.