Postal changes afoot around Saddleworth

A leaked document which claims Saddleworth could lose its full-time postmen and three sorting offices was denied today by Royal Mail.

The bombshell internal note, sent to a communications workers’ union (CWU) representative, claimed part-time postmen would be drafted in to deliver mail across the villages and the area’s permanent postmen and women would be moved to Oldham.

The proposal, under the heading ‘Project Country Roads,’ would be a phased operation but rural drives would not be included in the changes.

If approved, the plan, contained in a two-page document, is aimed at improving efficiency and cost saving .

However, a spokesman for Royal Mail rebuffed the allegations saying: “The sorting side is not closing.

“Local staff will still be working and those people they are used to seeing will still be in the villages.”

But a source close to the post office says the document, signed by an Oldham manager, had been given to a CWU representative and postmen were informed at a meeting on Friday.

“Everyone is up in arms about it,” claimed the source. “Local postmen and women in Saddleworth want to stay put.

“They know the villages and customers intimately and don’t want to move. The union will be objecting on their behalf.”

The revelation has brought anger from local councillors who believe the plan would cause frustrating delays to postal deliveries and problems in the community.

Ward councillor Alan Roughley with fellow councillor John McCann, are planning a public meeting and asking Royal Mail officials to attend.

And the situation will be discussed under an emergency motion at Saddleworth Parish Council’s meeting tonight.

Cllr Roughley said: “We need integrated local services otherwise communities will be dead.”

The document says preparation at Royal Mail sub-post deliveries would be centred in Oldham and there would be fewer staff at the villages’ sub post offices.

“The aim is to reduce costs, improve productivity by the absorption of indoor work, improve manpower planning and knock-on cover for sickness and leave,” it says.

Currently, Saddleworth postmen work a six-day week, with a week off every six weeks. But a rotating day off would be introduced removing the six-day working.

The document goes on: “High sick leave absence in Saddleworth’s sub post delivery offices has meant Oldham reserves have been required to work in the Saddleworth offices.”

Budget costs for Saddleworth sub post office delivery offices are overspending by £30,000, mainly through absence and associated cover, it is claimed.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We are proposing to make some changes to our operations at Dobcross, Uppermill and Greenfield delivery offices to ensure we provide a high quality service as efficiently as possible.

“We are talking to the union about our proposals and we will be consulting staff before any changes are made.

“Quality of service to our customers would not be adversely affected by the changes, and staff, who currently deliver in the area, would continue to do so.”

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, has been invited to attend the public meeting. His elder brother is a sub postmaster in the lakes.

Mr Woolas said: “The bottom line is we need a universal postal service and the integrity local postmen and women bring to the job.”