This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21974862
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Crown Post Office workers strike over franchise plans | Crown Post Office workers strike over franchise plans |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Staff in Wales have joined a strike over plans which they claim will downgrade several Crown Post Offices. | Staff in Wales have joined a strike over plans which they claim will downgrade several Crown Post Offices. |
| Union officials said changes at Llangefni and Holyhead threaten 16 jobs and would leave Anglesey without a Crown Post Office. | Union officials said changes at Llangefni and Holyhead threaten 16 jobs and would leave Anglesey without a Crown Post Office. |
| They claim the franchising scheme would also downgrade offices in Carmarthen, Morriston, Neath and Port Talbot. | They claim the franchising scheme would also downgrade offices in Carmarthen, Morriston, Neath and Port Talbot. |
| The Post Office said it was seeking retail partners for eight Crown Offices in Wales but none of them would close. | The Post Office said it was seeking retail partners for eight Crown Offices in Wales but none of them would close. |
| It said it was committed to keeping High Street branches and maintaining services. | It said it was committed to keeping High Street branches and maintaining services. |
| On Anglesey, campaigners protested outside Holyhead Crown Post Office while staff held a strike during morning opening times. | On Anglesey, campaigners protested outside Holyhead Crown Post Office while staff held a strike during morning opening times. |
| The Post Office said it had details of the impact of the strike from 11 out of its 20 Crown Post Offices branches in Wales. | The Post Office said it had details of the impact of the strike from 11 out of its 20 Crown Post Offices branches in Wales. |
| A spokesman said nine were closed and two were able to open, including one of the proposed franchise locations. | |
| He said its remaining 930 sub Post Office branches were unaffected by the action. | He said its remaining 930 sub Post Office branches were unaffected by the action. |
| Communication Workers Union (CWU) representative Jenny Windsor said: "The Post Office plans would leave the isle of Anglesey without a Crown Office and would have a terrible impact on local towns. | Communication Workers Union (CWU) representative Jenny Windsor said: "The Post Office plans would leave the isle of Anglesey without a Crown Office and would have a terrible impact on local towns. |
| 'Dumbing down' | 'Dumbing down' |
| "If the closure of these offices goes ahead the nearest Crown Office would be in Caernarfon. | "If the closure of these offices goes ahead the nearest Crown Office would be in Caernarfon. |
| Ms Windsor said local businesses were behind their campaign and had already started petitions. | Ms Windsor said local businesses were behind their campaign and had already started petitions. |
| "They would really suffer if these offices closed as the sub-post offices are located on the outskirts of town and are much harder to get to. | "They would really suffer if these offices closed as the sub-post offices are located on the outskirts of town and are much harder to get to. |
| In south Wales, more than 50 Post Office staff are striking over plans to offer the Crown Post Offices in Carmarthen, Morriston, Neath and Port Talbot to a franchise partner. | In south Wales, more than 50 Post Office staff are striking over plans to offer the Crown Post Offices in Carmarthen, Morriston, Neath and Port Talbot to a franchise partner. |
| Two Crown Post Offices in north east Wales - Rhyl and Holywell - are also included in the proposal. | Two Crown Post Offices in north east Wales - Rhyl and Holywell - are also included in the proposal. |
| The union says 17 Crown Post Offices will be affected by industrial action in Wales. | The union says 17 Crown Post Offices will be affected by industrial action in Wales. |
| Gary Watkins, CWU regional secretary for Wales, said: "Franchising a Crown Post Office is not only a dumbing down of the services. | Gary Watkins, CWU regional secretary for Wales, said: "Franchising a Crown Post Office is not only a dumbing down of the services. |
| "If the franchisee then ceases trading as have many High Street retailers recently then the community looses its Post Office completely and there is evidence to suggest this can happen." | "If the franchisee then ceases trading as have many High Street retailers recently then the community looses its Post Office completely and there is evidence to suggest this can happen." |
| Modernising | Modernising |
| The Post Office said it was disappointed that the CWU had called the strike action over pay and "critical transformation plans" which it said it must deliver. | The Post Office said it was disappointed that the CWU had called the strike action over pay and "critical transformation plans" which it said it must deliver. |
| It said the action will only affect Crown branches, and 98% of 950 branches in Wales will be unaffected. | It said the action will only affect Crown branches, and 98% of 950 branches in Wales will be unaffected. |
| In a statement it said the union was refusing to accept the need for the Post Office to modernise its Crown network and bring it back into profit by March 2015. | In a statement it said the union was refusing to accept the need for the Post Office to modernise its Crown network and bring it back into profit by March 2015. |
| The Post Office said for the eight Crown branches in Wales where it is looking for a retail partner, it costs between £1.54 (Morriston) and £2.12 (Llangefni) to generate every £1 of income. | The Post Office said for the eight Crown branches in Wales where it is looking for a retail partner, it costs between £1.54 (Morriston) and £2.12 (Llangefni) to generate every £1 of income. |
| Kevin Gilliland, network and sales director at the Post Office, said: "We are committed to keeping a Post Office branch on high streets and to maintaining the same levels of service for our customers. | Kevin Gilliland, network and sales director at the Post Office, said: "We are committed to keeping a Post Office branch on high streets and to maintaining the same levels of service for our customers. |
| "The best way for us to do this is to partner with a retailer, using an approach which has met with high customer satisfaction levels across the UK. | "The best way for us to do this is to partner with a retailer, using an approach which has met with high customer satisfaction levels across the UK. |
| "This is not a closure plan - our aim is to find a suitable retailer from which the branch can operate. Any new branch would offer the same range of Post Office services." | "This is not a closure plan - our aim is to find a suitable retailer from which the branch can operate. Any new branch would offer the same range of Post Office services." |