Job assurances for Royal Mail managers sought by Unite

24 May 2019 09:09 AM

Assurances about the future job security of Royal Mail managers is being sought by Unite, the union, following the company’s ‘poor’  financial statement this week.

Unite, which represents 6,000 managers, has written to Royal Mail’s chief executive Rico Back expressing its concerns, as the company announced a £1.8 billion turnaround plan for the next  five years in the UK postal service.

In the letter, Unite national officer Louisa Bull said: “The announcement yesterday (Wednesday 22 May) brings more questions around more potential headcount reductions.

“We are seeking reassurances around the long term job security of our members, so that we can enter into this next phase with a measure of stability amongst the manager population.

“As a union, we have dealt with some major changes in the business recently; changes to our pension scheme and the recent loss of 400 jobs that has led to a very unstable period and morale amongst the membership is at an unprecedented low.”

Louisa Bull said that Unite welcomed the £1.8 billion investment commitment, but also called for constructive engagement with Unite over future plans.

Louisa Bull added: “Delivering the new programme on the back of such poor results will be a challenge for everyone, and if our members are to play a key role in that success we need to know that the company is investing in us, retaining our posts, investing in our skills and ensuring that we are rewarded properly each year as we meet the demands that are placed upon us.”

The Royal Mail was privatised in controversial circumstances in 2013 amid claims that the shares were undervalued by the coalition government. The Royal Mail’s history stretches back 500 years to the reign of Henry VIII.

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Unite press office is on:  020 3371 2065

Email: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org