Defending public services – defending our jobs
Postal February 9 2023
Union launches national campaign against any reductions to ‘indispensable’ Royal Mail Customer Service Points…
“Let’s mobilise the widest possible support for this critically important facility,” is CWU general secretary Dave Ward’s message to members, as the union leads the defence of one of the key aspects of the universal postal service.
For members of the public and small businesses alike, being able to pop along to their local delivery office and pick up parcels and various signed-for mails from a professionally staffed Customer Service Point (CSP) where their mails have been stored safely and securely, is hugely valued. It is one of several unique qualities of Royal Mail that distinguishes it from cheaper and less reliable competitors, whose time-consuming and sometimes complicated redelivery systems often leave customers frustrated.
“As well as the huge social benefit that CSPs provide, they also make business sense too,” continues Dave. “This indispensable facility is a key competitive advantage and is one of many reasons why customers – whether residential or business – choose Royal Mail. So why is the company leadership refusing to liaise with anyone apart from Ofcom in its nationwide CSP Review? Why are we hearing that most CSPs are under threat of closure and that the few remaining ones will have their opening hours reduced? It makes no sense from any perspective.
“It’s certainly something that the Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson should be questioned about when he appears before the House of Commons Select Committee as he has been Summoned to do on 22nd February.
“What we’re asking our members to do is to write to their MPs, local councillors and key community groups within their localities. Tell them what’s at stake here, how it will impact on their constituents – and the sheer inconvenience it will cause. And let’s contact representatives from all parties – they all have a responsibility to their constituents.”
As well as the social value and the value to the business, CSPs also provide employment to CWU members at some 1,400 workplaces and Mark Baulch, CWU outdoor secretary, says that “we will certainly not stand by and watch the company put even more of our members’ jobs at risk. I’m receiving reports that our members who work in these facilities are being unfairly pressured to take voluntary redundancy, which is particularly concerning as some of these members’ rights may be affected under the Equality Act.”
Mark continues: “We should be expanding CSP opening hours, not reducing them and our general secretary is absolutely right to highlight the social and the business aspects of this issue. I’m hoping our members will contact their MPs, councillors, local businesses and voluntary community groups to alert them all to this very worrying situation. As a union, we fight to defend our members’ jobs, terms and conditions, but we also fight for the interests of our customers – the UK public.”
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Please ask your colleagues, friends and family to spread the word