Postmasters call on an post to cease opening out of town units
Postmasters have called on An Post to cease opening competitor offices in out of town business parks which threaten the future of community based Post Offices.
Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) Executive member and Midlands spokesperson Vincent Harney said Delivery Service Units (DSUs) operated by An Post, are to open in Birr and Tullamore this year. DSUs are non Postmaster operated services which sell stamps and parcel postage in out of town centre business parks.
Mr Harney said “the IPU is disappointed that An Post is doing this. This is impacitng negatively on full service Postmaster run Post Offices which are based in the community. I would encourage people to support their local Post Office, which is a valued and important part of every community. We have made the IPU’s opposition to the opening of DSUs known to An Post and the Government. 14 opened across the country in 2014 and 21 more are to open in 2015. We need to support Post Offices as valuable businesses which are at the heart of communities.”
The IPU is highly concerned about the future of Post Offices as 30% of all Post Office business is generated from delivering Social Welfare payments and Government is currently moving to providing these payments by direct electronic transfer to bank accounts.
IPU President Ciarán McEntree said additional services which Postmasters are seeking to provide include: A banking service; Motor Tax renewals, Driver Licence renewals, rates, rents and other Local Authority payments, lodgements and withdrawal services for Credit Unions, hospital charges, electronic form generation, insurance quotations and pension savings.
The IPU recently launched a Six Point Plan to protect the Post Office Network and support local communities which was attended large numbers of TDs and Senators from all corners of the country.
The Union’s Annual Conference takes place in Kilkenny next weekend (May 2 & 3) when Postmasters will discuss the next steps of their campaign to save Post Offices.