Post Office reassures Exeter customers ahead of strikes
The Post Office is reassuring customers in the Exeter area that despite the Communication Union’s call for strike action on Monday 19 December, Tuesday 20 December and Saturday 24 December at three Post Office branches, services will not be impacted at other branches in the area.
The Post Office said it is soon to say if services will be affected at the three branches where strike action has been called but other Post Offices in the areas will be open for business as usual as they are not involved in the industrial action.
All Post Office branches will be open on 21, 22 and 23 December.
The CWU have also called industrial action in the Post Office’s Supply Chain on 22 December and 23 December but contingency arrangements will ensure, as they have during previous strike action this month, that all branches have the cash and stock they need to operate.
Branches in the Exeter area where strike action has been called are:
Exeter - Bedford Street Post Office.
Exmouth - Chapel Street Post Office.
Kevin Gilliland, Post Office’s Network and Sales Director, said: “We want to reassure customers that if strike action takes place next week at least 97 per cent of our 11,600 branches will not be involved. Our priority will be to support them.
“Experience tells us we can manage this effectively and minimise the impact on the communities who rely on our services.
“Any action will affect fewer than three hundred of our branches across the UK, and many of these will be open to maintain services for customers preparing for Christmas.
“It will be business as usual in almost all of our network, with over 50,000 Post Office people on hand to support customers as they make their preparations for Christmas.”
He added that the Post Office plays a vital role in communities all over the UK and the changes it is making support its commitment to keeping these services widely available into the future.
“Our progress is clear - over the last four years, we’ve dramatically reduced our losses and need for government subsidy, at the same time as modernising nearly 7000 post offices, adding more than 200,000 extra opening hours each week, and becoming the largest UK retailer open on a Sunday,” he said.
Advice to customers
The strike action called by CWU does not involve Royal Mail employees. Royal Mail has informed Post Office that it has robust contingency plans in place and expects that there will be little effect on the services it provides.
20th December is the latest recommended date for people sending cards and packages by Royal Mail 2nd Class Mail.
21st December is the latest recommended date for people sending cards and packages by Royal Mail 1st Class Mail.
Customers can visit www.postoffice.co.uk to find out if their usual branch may be affected by action, and for more information on nearest alternative nearby branches and their opening hours.
Directly managed branches are based in towns and city centres and typically have several other branches nearby.
