No. 019/2017
12th January 2017
Dear Colleague
POST OFFICE: TRANCHE 3 OF THE FRANCHISING PROGRAMME AND PLANS TO CEASE ALL FINANCIAL SPECIALIST ROLES
Further to LTB 011/17. As Branches are aware, the Post Office has announced plans to cut over 400 jobs across the Crown Network; this announcement forms part of the ongoing Post Office policy of managed decline. The purpose of this LTB is to provide further detail in regards to the Post Office’s plans.
Tranche 3 of the Franchise Programme – 37 Crowns Impacted with Up to 300 Job Losses
The Post Office plans to franchise (privatise) a further 37 Crown Offices impacting upon up to 300 jobs. This announcement which is “Tranche 3” of the Post Office’s current franchise programme follows the two announcements in 2016 of the franchise or closure of a total of 62 Crown Offices, making a combined total of 99 Crowns for franchise/closure in the programme. The list of Crowns in Tranche 3 is as follows:
Abbey Wood / Harlesden / PetersfieldBillingham / Harringay / Pontefract
Bishops Stortford / Hecia Avenue / Pudsey
Bootle / Hoddesdon / Redruth
Brandon / Hornchurch / Rotherham
Camborne / Lancing / Shoreham by Sea
Church Road / Leigh-On-Sea / South Kensington Station
Collier Row / Leyton / South Woodford
Consett / Morningside / Stamford Hill
Diss / New Cross Gate / Stoke Newington
Dundee / New Street / Thetford
Falkirk / Ossett / Ulverston
Walthamstow Central
This latest development comes despite no partner yet being found for any of the 20 Crowns announced for franchise last July, and astonishingly, no partner being found for 11 of the 39 Crowns announced for franchise in January 2016. The members working in these Crown Offices have been living in limbo for up to 12 months with no idea what the future holds and with very little communication in terms of updates on their situation from the Post Office. The Crowns with members still facing an uncertain future with no franchise partner confirmed are as follows:
Blackfriars Road / Harold Hill / Muswell Hill1Bransholme / Headingley1 / Newhaven
Cirencester Town1 / Holywell / Sheerness1
Crouch End1 / Kingsland High Street / South Ockendon
Denbigh1 / Kingstanding / Springburn Way
Dingle / Leigh Park / St Johns Wood1
Duke Street / Llangefni / St Leonards on Sea
Dunmow / Londonderry / Sydenham1
East Kilbride / Lower Edmonton1 / Walworth Road1
Finsbury Park / Morriston / Waterlooville1
Willenhall
1 = Tranche 1
Community Campaigns
In the past, together with members of the local community, we have achieved successes in terms of saving Crown Offices earmarked for closure due to local campaigning. We now have 68 Crowns which are currently not linked to any local partner and as a consequence we have a good chance of saving many of these vital public services (and our members’ jobs) with powerful local community campaigns. Branches and Representatives are strongly encouraged to instigate community campaigns including holding public meetings in these areas at the earliest opportunity. The C&CH department holds campaign material including posters, leaflets etc. which can easily be tailored for local use. This is available on request by emailing LeaSheridan - . If you require the assistance of a Postal Executive member in terms of speaking at a public meeting, please also send requests via email to Lea.
Cessation of the Financial Specialist (FS) Role with the Loss of 127 Jobs
In addition to the above, the Post Office has disgracefully announced the cessation of all Financial Specialist roles within Crown Offices impacting upon 127 CWU grade jobs. The “consultation” began on 9th January and closes on 9th April 2017. The Financial Specialists were briefed on Tuesday 10th January at 7 venues around the country. Obviously this will be devastating news for our members and we have raised our strong objections to the Post Office’s plans which we believe are unjustified and unnecessary.
Political Activity
The General Secretary’s Office has written to all MPs who have a Crown Office (or in some cases more than one) in their constituency which is earmarked for franchise as part of Tranche 3 of the programme announced this week. An example of the correspondence to MPs is attached to this LTB for your information. A full briefing on the franchise programme has also been provided to MPs (also attached). Several meetings with MPs and CWU Representatives and/or members have already been arranged as this latest development has created a significant amount of interest politically which we will be seeking to build upon.
We now need to step up the political campaign due to the Post Office’s disgraceful actions which come less than three weeks after 75,000 postcards were returned to the government signed by members of the public calling for an end to the closure and franchise programme. The Post Office and the government have completely ignored their views and we will be highlighting this to politicians, the press and media and the public.
In conclusion, further franchising and the cessation of Financial Specialists combined indicates an extremely serious development and the union is appalled by the Post Office’s actions. The Postal Executive will be considering next steps in response to these further unwarranted attacks on our members’ jobs. Further developments will be reported.
Yours sincerely
Andy Furey Terry Pullinger Dave Ward
Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal) General Secretary