Canteen row hits Royal Mail move (From Thurrock Gazette)

Canteen row hits Royal Mail move

12:30pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News

ROYAL Mail workers have launched a campaign to save their canteen and two of its staff after bosses announced their new building would not have one.

Staff at the Royal Mail site in Hogg Lane, Grays, were told two weeks ago that plans for a canteen in a new purpose-built facility, next to the current site, had been scrapped.

It was also revealed both canteen staff were handed 12-week redundancy letters.

Members of the Communication Workers Union have vowed to fight to keep their promised canteen, as well as protecting the two jobs.

Building work for the new Royal Mail delivery site should be completed by the spring after the current site was bought by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation to turn into flats.

A spokesman for the union said: “We were promised our new site, being built next door, would be purpose built, like for like with improved facilities for all. Larger deliveries, with increased numbers of call points, have resulted in an additional workload with increased fatigue.

“This would have been much less demanding if we were able to have a suitable and sufficient rest break with the option of food.”

The spokesman added both canteen ladies have chalked up more than 30 years working at the current site and all 120 workers supported the campaign to keep them.

Sally Hopkins, of the Royal Mail, said the new delivery office would have recreational areas for workers to get refreshments.

She said: “We are undertaking detailed planning for the move and have been working with colleagues and the union to ensure a smooth transition and improved working conditions.

“We need to make sure we have world class facilities which provide the most efficient network for delivering the post. The investment allows us to safeguard the future of our postal service in the area.”