Parcelforce workers meet union for crisis jobs talks

Urgent talks are due to take place between Northern Ireland Parcelforce workers and the Communications Workers Union (CWU) about the devastating jobs cuts announced by Consignia this week.

The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday March 27 in Belfast, has been called following the news that three of Parcelforce’s depots are to close with a loss of 140 jobs.

Parcelforce’s parent company Consignia announced on Monday March 25 they were cutting 15,000 jobs over three years as part of a rescue plan to bring the company which is currently losing £1.5 million a day back to profitability.

Depots in Portadown, Londonderry and Belfast north are to close, leaving just one operational base in Belfast city centre.

CWU spokesman Peter Hamill said: “Clearly these depots are intended for closure. Although Consignia have announced a three-year plan to spread the jobs losses, I expect these depots in Northern Ireland to close in June or July.

“As a union the CWU will be resisting any attempt to force through these redundancies.

“If these depots close it will not be a change for the better and it will certainly not serve the public or businesses any better."

Mr Hamill said since Consignia changed their name from the Post Office it had been a disaster for the company. That coupled with second-rate management, he said had contributed to their financial headaches.

“However we will work with senior management in Consignia to tackle this issue. But the mood of members across Consignia is at an all time low. It’s a nightmare,” he added.

(AMcE)