Battle to halt post office franchise (From Western Telegraph)

Battle to halt post office franchise

EFFORTS to stop the last Crown Post Office in Pembrokeshire falling into the hands of a franchise intensified on Wednesday when a demonstration was staged in Quay Street, Haverfordwest.

The protest, organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), was in the form of a petition. Customers were given the opportunity to sign on their way into the post office and leaflets were distributed, explaining what the customers stand to lose if Primeco takes over the office.

The CWU claims that the office's change in status, in February 2005, would result in the loss of experienced staff, lack of confidentiality, increased queuing times and more errors being made.

Bill Thomas, aged 80, of Tynewydd, Wiston, said: "My wife and I have been using this post office since it opened and we know all the staff.

"They are doing a great job and it makes me really angry that the Post Office would sell it on to a company for a quick profit.

"I'm disabled and they really go out of their way to help. I want privacy when I'm at the post office not a shop full of people in the background."

The Post Office says the only change to the services if Primeco get the franchise would be extended opening hours and a wider range of goods on sale.

Charlie Truscott, counters section secretary of the CWU, said: "Franchises tend to employ people with little or no experience and pay them less. Displaced staff are given the choice of voluntary redundancy or redeployment at a nearby Crown office, the closest in this case is Carmarthen. This would constitute a 60-mile round trip every day."

To protest against this decision write to Carole Pryszlak, Head of Area, Post Office, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW.