Shift changes could cause later post

It has been claimed that Royal Mail plans to introduce new shift systems could mean later post in rural areas

ROYAL Mail plans to introduce new shift systems will mean later post for Newbury, Thatcham and district, it was claimed this week.

Delivery workers who spoke to Newburytoday.co.uk said that could mean deliveries as late as 4pm - a move which could prove damaging for small businesses according to the West Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.

One delivery worker, who asked for his name to be withheld, said: “We have already had team briefings from management about it. From April we are being asked to start work between 7am and 7.30am.

“A few years ago we started at 5am but when they tried to introduce a 7am start a few years ago there was such a public outcry that they compromised and agreed on 6am. We want our customers to know that, if this goes ahead, we're not turning up late and being lazy - it's a management cost-cutting measure so they don't have to pay the overtime pay for early shifts.”

The worker added: “Also, some of us have children to pick up from school and this could make things impossible.”

Another delivery worker, who also asked for their name to be withheld, said: “Deliveries are just going to get later and later and it could be 4pm in rural areas. Small businesses needing cheques will have to pay them in 24 hours later.”

President of West Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Ian Vickerage said: “This could prove a real problem for smaller businesses that rely on cashing cheques on time. There's a culture of poor service proliferating in the UK and it's short-sighted.

“People getting reduced customer service will tend to look elsewhere if they can't rely on morning mail deliveries. Most will say they will rely on BACS (Bankers' Automated Clearing Services) instead. Those customers will then be lost to Royal Mail forever.”

Secretary at Elite Garage Services on Turnpike Industrial Estate, Christine Boulten, said: “I'd be very unhappy with an afternoon post. Like most people, we like to get our banking done early in the morning.”

A Communication Workers' Union spokeswoman, who asked not be named, said: “Basically it means that, in urban areas, deliveries could now finish at 3pm and 4pm in rural areas. It's part of a three-year modernisation plan and it seems a whole host of things will be changing.”

Payroll manager at Assets Outsourcing accountants in Thatcham Pam Holmes said: “It would certainly be a nuisance. Already, many of our customers don't pay by cheque because the postal service is all over the place.

“As it is, sometimes we don't get our post until a day late if the postman is on holiday. On a personal note, it's disappointing for children on their birthdays if the post doesn't come before they go to school.”

Barry Forkin of Barry Forkin/Toomers hardware store in Bartholomew Street, agreed: “We always do our banking in the morning. This will not help.”

Royal Mail spokesman James Eady said: “It's part of a national program to make services more efficient as part of a modernisation process.”

However, no further details were provided and subsequent inquiries were unanswered as Newburytoday.co.uk's sister newspaper, the Newbury Weekly News went to press yesterday (Wednesday).