Concerns raised over way forward for Post Offices in branches | EUROtoday

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A union has raised issues over the way forward for its members who work in publish places of work working inside WH Smith outlets.

WH Smith is in talks over a possible sale of its High Street shops because the enterprise has grow to be extra centered on its outlets in airports and repair and practice stations.

This has raised questions over the way forward for 195 publish places of work housed inside the High Street shops. The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents Post Office employees within the outlets, warned any potential closures can be “devastating”.

A spokesman for the Post Office instructed the BBC the corporate remained involved with the retailer over its plans.

Since information of WH Smith’s potential High Street shops sale emerged over the weekend, the BBC has been contacted by many individuals asking concerning the destiny of publish places of work inside the shops.

WH Smith has mentioned its High Street shops stay a “profitable and cash-generative part of the group”, and it’s exploring varied choices, “including a possible sale”.

It added: “There can be no certainty that any agreement will be reached, and further updates will be provided as and when appropriate.”

The BBC understands the industrial relationship between each the retailer and the Post Office is robust, with advantages for each events, due to this fact any new potential purchaser would possibly keep the present association.

The announcement comes amid a troublesome financial outlook for High Street retailers.

The first of WH Smith’s 500 shops opened greater than 230 years in the past, working as a information vendor. It has since grown into a serious High Street and journey retailer.

The journey retail enterprise facet of WH Smith – which operates from airports, practice stations and hospitals – now accounts for greater than 85% of its revenue and operates 1,200 shops throughout 32 nations.

The Post Office mentioned it had been involved with WH Smith to “understand more about their plans for their High Street stores”.

A CWU spokesperson mentioned any potential closures can be “devastating, but they are sadly all too predictable”.

“For far too long, certain communities are being turned into postal deserts, and bad economic decisions are eroding High Streets up and down the country,” the union mentioned.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0l81el3dgo