Post offices in Shropshire could close without Royal Mail business
Shadow Postal Affairs Minister Nia Griffith and Billy Hayes, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union, have today visited Wellington warning that the government’s refusal to secure Royal Mail business for the Post Office could spell the end of local post offices.
CWU and Labour warn that buyers cannot be found for post offices because the government’s Postal Services Bill does not legislate for an inter-business agreement (IBA) between Royal Mail and the Post Office. Nia and Billy are visiting post offices across the West Midlands to highlight the damaging impacts of the government’s postal privatisation plans ahead of the local elections on May 5th.
Nia Griffith, Labour Shadow Postal Affairs Minister, said: “In the future, a privatised Royal Mail could end the vital lifeline that exists with the Post Office and cut costs by removing mail services, forcing people to travel miles to post a parcel. This could cause huge problems for many people in Telford.
“The Post Office remains a vital part of communities across the West Midlands. Rushing through the privatisation of Royal Mail provides no safeguards for our post office network and is yet another damaging policy from this Tory-led government.”
Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “Post offices have been closing at an alarming rate since the government announced their plans for Royal Mail. Post offices rely on work generated by mails business and most would be unsustainable if this was removed.
“With uncertainty hanging over Royal Mail and the post office network, it’s no surprise that buyers are hard to find. The government must change its approach or face the decimation of our cherished post office network. Who’s going to buy a business which stands to lose a substantial part of its income?”
