Black Country Post Offices hit as workers join strike
One post office was closed and another was reduced to a skeleton staff in the Black Country as post office workers launched strike action yesterday.
Walsall post office in Darwall Street was closed except to customers claiming parcels, while the Willenhall branch in John Street operated with just two members of staff manning the counters.
Both branches have been earmarked for closures. There was signage telling customers to expect a slower service, but queues were short.
There were no pickets at either venue, but one member of staff was outside the Walsall branch.
He said: "Loads of us are on strike. We can't keep accepting these cuts and what they're doing with our pensions."
The one-day strike was taken nationally over the closure of Crown buildings such as the Walsall and Willenhall branches, job cuts and pensions.
In Birmingham, workers joined a picket at Pinfold Street, with some travelling from the West Midlands. Other branches that were closed in the West Midlands were in Harbourne, Kingstanding and Solihull.
The Communication Workers Union, who took charge of the industrial action, had expected 100 per cent backing from all members of staff.
Jim Reeves, the Midlands region representative for the union, said: "We hoped for the full support. We got 100 per cent at Walsall and I believe Willenhall was run by managers.
"I think we're received a very solid support which we're pleased with and we expected.
"Hopefully now the Post Office will listen to the workers and realise the strength of the workforce leading into negotiations with ACAS next Wednesday in London."
The Post Office, which is owned by the Government, plans to transfer around 60 of its larger outlets to the private-sector which is expected to threaten around 2,000 jobs among its workforce of 6,600 staff.
This industrial action affects so-called Crown branches, which are managed directly by the Post Office, and represent 300 or so of the network's 11,000 plus branches, the majority of which are run independently.
Next Wednesday sees the firm enter negotiations with ACAS, an organisation which looks to resolve employee disputes.
Kevin Gilliland, Post Office's network and sales director, said: "We apologise to any customers who have been inconvenienced by the disruption to service in a very small number of branches.
"The Post Office is a national institution that is adapting to change and we are safeguarding the future of the network.
"It is crucial that we safeguard the benefits that members of our Defined Benefit Plan have already built up.
"The business's financial position is improving but we remain loss-making. The fund's surplus is currently being used to help subsidise the cost of the Plan and, based on the advice of our actuary, it will run out in 2017.
"Once this happens, the costs to the business of meeting existing commitments will significantly increase and will not be sustainable. We therefore need to close the DB plan before the surplus runs out.
"All of our proposals are taken forward with the utmost care for the people they affect and, following consultation and having taken further advice from our Actuary, we made changes to what we are proposing to try to lessen the impact on individuals.
"We are clear that our recommendation is the responsible thing to do both for members of the plan and for the long-term financial health of the business. It is currently being considered by the Trustee."
