Press release -
MAJORITY OF POST OFFICE BRANCHES WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY FURTHER INDUSTRIAL ACTION
- Vast majority of Post Office branches are not involved in dispute
- Post Office disappointed by CWU call for strike
- In September’s strike over 98% of the network remained open
- Changes mean Post Office services are safeguarded for the future
The Post Office has reassured its customers that the vast majority of its network of 11,600 branches will remain unaffected by industrial action called by its unions.
Kevin Gilliland, Post Office’s Network and Sales Director said that the company was trying to find a constructive way forward with continuing talks at Acas and was disappointed by the CWU’s announcement of intention to strike. But he stressed that the Post Office was yet to receive formal notification, and that most of the Post Office’s 11,600 branches would not be involved in the dispute.
“We are disappointed that CWU is again talking about strikes when we continue to try to reach a constructive way forward through talks at Acas. The post office has repeatedly invited the unions to discuss strategy and present its view of the future of the business to our Group Executive and Board.
“We can reassure our customers that, if strikes go ahead, the vast majority of people working at Post Office branches would not be involved and almost all of our network will be open for business and operating normally.
“Well over 11,000 of our branches are run by independent businesses. The 50,000 people who work in these branches will be providing Post Office services as usual if a further strike goes ahead,” he said.
“In addition, our contingency plans will ensure some directly-managed branches will remain open and that there is sufficient cash and stock for our whole network.”
Mr Gilliland said that changes the Post Office is making throughout its business underpin its commitment to keep its services widely available into the future.
“More than 99 per cent of people in the UK live within three miles of a Post Office branch and we are committed to safeguarding that level of service,” he said.
“The Post Office is a national institution that is successfully adapting to change.
“Over the last four years, we have modernised over 6,500 branches, adding more than 200,000 extra opening hours each week, and becoming the largest UK retail network open on Sundays.
“At the same time we have halved our losses and made steady progress to reduce costs to the taxpayer.”
Ends
Issued by:
Post Office Press Office
20 Finsbury Street,
LONDON
EC2Y 9AQ
Tel: 020 7012 3456 (24 hours),
Email: pressoffice@postoffice.co.uk
Twitter: @PostOfficeNews
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About the Post Office
The Post Office (Post Office Limited) has an unrivalled national network of over 11,500 branches across the UK, more than all the high street banks combined, and sits at the heart of communities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The Post Office has made a commitment to maintaining its network of branches at its current size and reach. It provides around 170 different products and services spanning financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards; Government services; telephony; foreign currency; travel insurance and mail services.
The Post Office serves over 17 million customers a week and a third of small businesses. Some 99.7% of the total population live within three miles of a post office and over 97% live with one mile of a post office. For many rural communities, the post office is the only retail outlet. Post Offices branches remain highly valued and trusted, and are the focal point of many communities. For more information, visit http://www.postoffice.co.uk/.
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