Royal Mail is set to reduce its workforce by 550 in England’s Midlands region, around 3% of its17,000-strong workforce there, as the group continues its rationalisation and modernisation
programme.Under the plans, the UK postal operator will close its Leicester mail centre and downgrade thosein Derby and Worcester to delivery offices. Some smaller delivery offices will also be incorporatedinto the Derby and Worcester facilities.
Royal Mail said that it had reached the decision after months of consultation with officialsfrom the Communication Workers Union and Unite, although discussions were continuing with theunions and a further consultation period has been launched.
If, following further consultation with the unions, the formal proposals are confirmed, thecompany said that the following mail centres would remain serving the Midlands: Birmingham, NorthWest Midlands (Wolverhampton), Nottingham and South Midlands (Northampton).
Although it has reached the point of making formal proposals, Royal Mail said no final decisionhad been made, as the consultation process with the unions was not yet complete.
“The proposals are in line with changes in many other parts of the UK,” Royall Mail said. “Underthe 2010 Business Transformation agreement, Royal Mail agreed with the CWU to review the number ofmail centres throughout the UK.”
In consultation with the CWU, 12 mail centres have closed in the last four years.
“The number of items posted each year in the Midlands has fallen by more than 400 million since2006,” Royal Mail added. “With the number expected to fall by a further 500 million items by 2015,the modernisation programme, and the formal proposals on which Royal Mail are consulting, have beencreated with a view to ensuring the successful future of the business.”
The CWU told CEP-Research that the changes were part of the modernisation programme that hasbeen going on for around 18 months now, and is negotiated with CWU.
Lee Barron, CWU Midlands regional secretary, said: “There will be no compulsory redundancies asa result of what’s happening in the Midlands. We’ve got a robust framework in which to work throughthese changes, as well as a package of benefits to help people move to other jobs or premiseswithin Royal Mail. CWU is at the forefront of these negotiations and we are ensuring that postalworkers are treated fairly through this process.”
