Fears voiced for future of key Royal Mail services and jobs in Peterborough
Concerns are growing that some Royal Mail services and jobs in Peterborough are under threat as part of a nationwide review of the business.
Union officials have warned that the Royal Mail’s Revenue Protection team in Peterborough is earmarked for possible closure along with similar services at 21 other locations across the UK.
It is understood that the work of the Revenue Protection staff, along with tackling underpayments for postal services, involves reducing the number of scam letters sent out to residents and helping to target drugs that are sent through the postal service.
The review is part of a Royal Mail two-phase programme of proposed structural changes which that could lead to up to 2,500 job losses nationally.
A notice issued by the eastern branch of the Communication Workers Union, which covers Peterborough, states: “The largest impact area is in Revenue Protection where the business has announced that they are proposing significant reductions in the operation which would undoubtedly affect front line employees.
It adds: "Based on the information received, Royal Mail has proposed ceasing Revenue Protection activity at 22 sites, reducing activity at a further six sites with no change at the remaining 11 sites.”
It states that the Peterborough team is among the 22 being considered for closure.
The Union adds: “We do understand how unsettling this proposal will be for our members in Revenue Protection.
"The CWU has informed Royal Mail that we do not accept their proposal.
"We do not believe that the case for the site closure and service reductions has been made in relation to many of the sites.”
A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail is undergoing a significant transformation, as the business implements reform and adapts to a rapidly-changing market.
"We are simplifying processes and functions across the business and have announced proposals for an organisational review of head office and support functions.
"We anticipates that the review would reduce the number of head office and support function roles by up to 2,500 by the end of 2027, representing less than two per cent of the company’s workforce of over 131,000 people.”
He said that any item that is thought to be suspicious at any point in the network, whether in a mail centre or while on delivery, would be reported to the police.