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Paisley posties’ jobs could be at risk after Royal Mail announced it will be making up to 6,000 redundancies across the UK.
The firm, which was sold off by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government to private investors less than a decade ago, has said it will be cutting around 10,000 roles in total.
The remaining 4,000 job cuts will be brought about by not replacing workers who leave.
Royal Mail could not confirm how many jobs would be lost in Renfrewshire.
The firm say it has made an operating loss of £219 million so far this year and expect the full year adjusted operating loss to be around £350m.
It made £758m in profit last year.
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Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson said: “I regret that we are announcing these job losses.
“We will do all we can to avoid compulsory redundancies and support everyone affected.”
The company was keen to blame striking staff from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) for the downturn in profit.
Mr Thompson continued: “Each strike day weakens our financial situation.
“The CWU’s decision to choose damaging strike action over resolution regrettably increases the risk of further headcount reductions.”
However, union bosses, who have been fighting for a pay rise that takes into account the cost-of-living crisis, hit back and said it was mismanagement of the company that has been responsible for the downturn in profit.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “The announcement is the result of gross mismanagement and a failed business agenda of ending daily deliveries, a wholesale levelling-down of the terms, pay and conditions of postal workers, and turning Royal Mail into a gig economy style parcel courier.
“What the company should be doing is abandoning its asset-stripping strategy.
“The CWU is calling for an urgent meeting with the board and will put forward an alternative business plan at that meeting.
“This announcement is holding postal workers to ransom for taking legal industrial action against a business approach that is not in the interests of workers, customers or the future of Royal Mail. This is no way to build a company.”
CWU Scotland secretary Craig Anderson said: “There’s no indication how the announcement from Royal Mail impacts on Scotland or more locally, or indeed if it will impact us here because, from the documents I’ve seen from Royal Mail, they are estimating the amount of job cuts.”
Paisley posties have been seen on strike outside the Underwood Road depot in the town in recent months as they continue their fight for better pay and conditions.
One worker – who was striking last month and who did not wish to be named – told the Paisley Daily Express: “We are in a cost-of-living crisis and yet we are out here having to fight for a real wage that matches the true price of living during this recession.
“The country is on its knees.
“The bin workers, the NHS, teachers, are all struggling and it’s about time this was recognised.”
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