News

The British Government has secured a ten-year agreement between Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd ahead of their separation later this year under the provisions of the controversial Postal Services Act . The agreement ensures the availability of Royal Mail products and services at post offices into the future even as plans to separate and privatise Royal Mail move forward.



Billy Hayes, General Secretary of UNI affiliate CWU and UNI World President for Post & Logistics, said of the changes, "We're relieved that government has at least taken on board our arguments that a minimum 10 year inter-business agreement between Royal Mail and the Post Office was needed to secure access to products and services, and of course revenue for post offices. Without our lobbying last year and the intervention of MPs from all parties this would not have happened." 



Still, the separation of the delivery network from the retail network causes concern for CWU. Hayes continued, "This announcement paves the way for the end of the Post Office as we know it. It's the end of an era and an unprecedented step by the government - we're not aware of any other country which has severed the retail post office network away from the main mails, deliveries and logistics part of the business. When people think of the Post Office they think of the whole mail network from post office to postman, sorting and delivery - but not any more.



Read more of CWU's take here: http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/-end-of-an-era-for-post-office-says-cwu.html