Axe-hit post workers set to meet union

Employees at two Shropshire Royal Mail delivery offices which are facing the axe will hold crunch talks with union leaders next week.

Staff at offices in Church Stretton and Ellesmere will meet representatives of the Communications Workers Union on Monday and Tuesday after Royal Mail announced the offices will close next month.

The move would see staff having to travel to Craven Arms or Oswestry instead, and people in the towns may have to travel further to collect undelivered parcels.

Pete Kelly, area delivery representative for CWU, said union members were "extremely angry" at the announcement, which came on Wednesday.

He said staff would discuss the closures and decide what action to take.

"Royal Mail has yet again ignored the wishes of the people who work in these offices. They are going ahead as we predicted at short notice," he said.

"Giving three weeks' notice is a disgrace. They are shutting the offices on May 11. It's not on, it's not fair, and it's just cost cutting.

"Royal Mail would not come clean and tell people what is going on; they put together their budget and found they can save a bob or two this way. It's not fair, these people are going to have to make arrangements. Some of them will have to travel a lot further."

Royal Mail spokeswoman Jaquie Stenson said: "We will reimburse our people for any extra mileage caused by the changes in their place of work.

"Each individual also has the opportunity to discuss how the change affects them on a one-to-one basis and we will do everything possible to match our people's preferences for the future with the options available."