GSP 12-19 Closure of Cork Mails Centre
10/July/2019
Description
On Thursday 27th of June the Board of An Post confirmed the Company decision to close the Cork Mails Centre. This devastating news was announced to members the previous night with a full team of Union Officials present to meet with Branch Representatives and then the members affected. The news was met with shock and tears and while a closure was expected, there was the hope in Cork that it would be one of the other centres. This decision was expected over the past two years and since then the uncertainty of future employment has been hanging over all our members heads in the three provincial centres which has caused huge levels of stress for all concerned. Therefore, it is important that we examine why we are, where we are, today and prepare for what is facing us in the future.
Letter volumes have been in decline since the financial crash. It is estimated that there are now less than 50% of the letter volumes than during the so-called Celtic Tiger. That decline continues at over 5% each year and quite simply there is not enough work to keep three provincial mail centres open. This decline has also been evident on deliveries. The Company finances reflected those losses and without drastic changes was facing collapse. It is the same story throughout almost all postal companies in Europe. The CWU decided to push the Company into focusing on the growing packets and parcels market and to withdraw Board funding for further letter technology.
As a result, in September 2017, the Labour Court deliberated on a number of issues relating to the future direction of the company and issued findings on critical matters including pay, voluntary redundancy terms and efficiency measures. Those findings were accepted by our members by ballot with cuts in delivery staff numbers implemented almost immediately in January 2018 while the mail centre closure was delayed until March 2020. The 6% pay increase associated with the finding has also been paid in full. Since the Court decision the outcome has also been debated at our Conference and at our recent Spring Seminar.
In accepting the outcome of the Labour Court finding, the Union had set itself on a course for the transformation of the business to guarantee the maximum level of good jobs. Since the hearing, members have begun to make those changes, which is evident by evening and Saturday parcels and packets deliveries. Those changes have enabled An Post to compete with the myriad of multinational and local couriers who all vie for the same business. As a result, employment has already grown in some areas and last year the company posted its first profit for many years which allowed us to negotiate a 2.5% pay rise with no strings attached.
The transformation of An Post from a letters business to a parcels/packets business which also carries letters is a process that will take a number of years and which will result in changes in delivery methods and practices across the country, with particular emphasis in the larger towns and cities. It will impact on many members with possible changes to attendance times and attendance locations as the process is rolled out.
Despite this, I believe it is fair to say the realisation that the Board of the Company have decided to close the Cork Mails Centre, will come as a shock to many outside Cork and underlines the fact that the transformation is now beginning to take place. Of course, there is no argument or logic that is of any benefit at this stage to the members in the Cork Mails Centre, who have had to face the harsh reality of the closure of their place of employment. Mails Centres provide decent, unionised and pensionable employment and they are the type of jobs that are not easy to replace. In these difficult circumstances, it is the duty of the Union to ensure redeployment options within the Company for those who wish to take them up and the best possible exit terms for those who believe the option to leave is best for them. I, along with Seán McDonagh, Cormac O’Dalaigh and Bill Colfer will attend a general meeting of the members concerned and I am confident we will resolve all the key issues that will arise. The Union and the local Branches will work closely together to ensure people receive all the advice and support they need.
I understand that this is the start of what will be a difficult journey for many. However, if we can successfully complete that journey, we can build a business and a company that provides thousands of good jobs into the future. If we fail, the disappointing and sad story of the Cork Mails Centre will be replicated right across the country.