More job losses in the post

FRESH fears are looming for postal workers after reports suggested up to 40,000 more jobs could go.

Royal Mail chief Moya Greene refused to say how many redundancies would be made — but they will be in addition to 42,000 cuts made since 2002.

It has been suggested that half of all mail centres are set to close, as the company is currently losing £2million per week.

Des Carney, national representative for the Communication Workers Union, said if the figures are to be believed, it could mean that delivery offices attached to sub-post offices in Greenfield, Dobcross and Uppermill could be moved down to Oldham.

He added: “Across the country, smaller delivery offices are being closed and centralised.

“Oldham’s sorting centre has already closed, with about 150 staff going to Manchester and some leaving the business on voluntary terms. We are not aware of the exact number of redundancies at the moment but a figure of 40,000 is being talked about — that is one in four of all operational staff, so if that is the case, that would of course have an impact on Oldham.

“Now we’ve got to evaluate what the impact could be of the redundancies — there’s always the potential to strike.”

Royal Mail is set to be privatised after The Postal Services Bill was passed last week.