Post Office to dump all branches it nonetheless manages to franchise | EUROtoday

The Post Office has stated it’s going to offload the remaining 108 branches it owns and runs to maneuver to a completely franchised community.

About 1,000 workers working in these Crown Post Offices will likely be supplied the selection to maneuver to work for any new proprietor or take voluntary redundancy.

It is known the Post Office has acquired curiosity from potential retail companions together with Tesco and Ryman, in addition to sub-postmasters, to tackle these loss-making branches.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) known as for the federal government to intervene instantly and study different choices.

CWU common secretary Dave Ward stated: “The Post Office’s claim that these community services will be maintained by their failed franchising model is laughable to anyone who has seen their local Post Office services reduced to the back of a shop.

“The sell-off of WH Smith final week exhibits simply how fragile and ill-thought out this mannequin is. This is the total privatisation of the Post Office through the again door.”

The Post Office confirmed last November that the future of the Crown Offices would be under review as part of a five-year plan to overhaul the business.

A decision on who will take them over will be made in the coming weeks and the Post Office will stop running them by the autumn, subject to government funding.

Post Office chairman Nigel Railton said the 108 branches will either stay in the same location or be relocated nearby so customers continue to have access to the same services.

He said moving to a fully franchised network was one part of enabling the Post Office to deliver a new deal for postmasters.

“By franchising these branches, we’re defending entry to our providers for communities proper throughout the UK and realising £40m price of financial savings that may allow us to uplift postmasters’ remuneration by as much as 10%,” he said.

He said over the coming months the Post Office would continue to work with unions to consult with staff in the 108 branches and support them through the transition.

The Post Office said it would work with franchise partners with a clear track record of successfully running Post Office services or similar customer-focused retail to ensure customers continue to receive a high level of service once the branches are franchised.

The company said it remained committed to meeting the current requirement to have a minimum of 11,500 branches across the UK and to meet the six access criteria set by government.

Further particulars on proposals will likely be shared with native communities and stakeholders for particular person branches within the coming weeks.