Jobs under threat at Post Office, says employee (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Jobs under threat at Post Office, says employee

A CIRENCESTER Post Office employee says jobs will be lost because of changes made by the Government to the way benefit and pension payments are made.

The changes will result in benefit and pension payments being transferred into bank accounts, replacing the traditional manner of payment over the counter.

Lyn Simpson, who works at Cirencester Post Office and is the Communications Workers Union (CWU) counters section secretary, said post offices could lose up to 40 per cent of business as a result of the new direct payment methods.

She said: "Post Offices and postal jobs are at serious risk from the introduction of direct payments.

"There is obviously the threat of use it or lose it. We are committed to the future of the industry and the Government should be too."

Last Monday Miss Simpson and fellow members of the CWU Gloucestershire Amalgamated Branch held a protest outside Gloucester's Kings Square Post Office as part of its 'Banking on You' campaign which aims to reassure the public they can still use any Post Office for banking services.

The union is also calling on the Government to alter the application process for the new Post Office Account Card which is used by customers to withdraw cash.

The card account is the only way of guaranteeing claimants continue using Post Offices but the union believes the procedure is too complicated.

Anyone with a bank account can also use a Post Office to withdraw and deposit cash and make balance enquiries.

Miss Simpson added: "Many people have bank accounts but they like coming to their local Post Office to get their money.

"The Government must stop putting obstacles in the way of that."

Staff from the Cirencester branch have also visited scores of pensioners in the town to explain how the changes affect them and reassure them that staff will help them in the change over period.