Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) is disappointed to learn that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) plans to ballot its members on the proposed pay and pension reforms.
For some time, the Executive of IOMPO have been in negotiations with the CWU and the Communication Managers' Association (CMA) regarding the proposals. The proposals which IOMPO have presented to the unions consist of a complex set of elements which the Board firmly believe offer protection for existing employees, seeking to keep the current defined benefit pension scheme open to existing members and a commitment to protecting employee basic pay. The difficult circumstances the business is experiencing require the Board to be financially responsible while respecting the dedicated and valued workforce.
IOMPO is facing many postal industry challenges and therefore it needs to change. Having made a financial loss for the first time last year (2017/18), the Board are mindful that they have a responsibility to protect staff and the business for the long term and to remain self-funding. While doing this, they want to maintain current employees' benefits of employment within the business as much as possible. While looking forward, it wants to retain and attract high quality new staff by remaining an employer of choice and detailed negotiations with the respective unions are in progress to work towards achieving this.
For the past six weeks, IOMPO has been running a public consultation, which closes tomorrow (2nd October), to seek opinions from its staff, customers, local businesses, organisations and corporate clients on how best to adapt letter and parcel deliveries and post office services in the community to suit demand. IOMPO believes its valued customers are best placed to advise what services they want from their Post Office and the frequency and location of them and with public support, will look to change the business into a modern and more fit for purpose post office. The results of the consultation will be analysed in due course and will inform the strategic choices IOMPO will seek approval for from Tynwald.
The 'online' digital revolution has changed the way people communicate and how and where they choose to buy their goods and pay for services. While there has been a sustained growth in parcel volumes, this does not offset the 47% drop in letter mail volumes over the last 10 years, as fewer letters are being sent and fewer people are using post offices than ever before. Despite the decline, IOMPO has continued to face the same associated costs for delivery, staffing etc and this is no longer an affordable or acceptable position for it to sustain. Therefore ways to improve efficiency have to be introduced.
Julie Edge MHK, Chairman of IOMPO said: "It is disappointing that Mr Pullinger, on behalf of the CWU has confirmed he will ballot his members. The difficult circumstances associated with the business being loss-making means we must implement financially responsible changes to ensure the future prosperity of the business for all. We appreciate change is never easy for our staff and we remain committed to keeping them up-to-date with developments as and when there is news. It is in all our best interests to conclude on negotiations in a timely manner and wherever possible by agreement."
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