The postal workers’ union has called for a boycott of WH Smith and possible strike action over plans to move 70 post offices to within WHS branches. CWU spokesman Andy Furey called the move a “devastating blow” for “specialist highly skilled staff”, who will now be offered voluntary redundancy or jobs elsewhere with RM or WHS.
WH Smith have been running post office branches as a trial in six stores since last year. Chief Executive Kate Swann said that the deal would secure “the future of Post Office services in the towns served by these 70 stores”. All services currently offered by the Post Office would be provided in the new stores, whose opening hours would match those of the store. Sunday trading was also being considered, she said.
While change at work is always difficult, there can be little doubt that Ms Swann is right, and that moving post offices to within other stores has to be better than seeing the PO network pruned and pruned some more with every fresh round of closures. Longer opening hours will be more convenient for everyone, and being under WH Smith’s umbrella might even give those “specialist staff” a little more longer-term security.
I would like to point out to any eBay buyers reading, though, that POs opening on Sundays does *not* mean your parcels are getting posted that day 😀
Thanks to Dan for the link.
