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Chairmans Address at the "Community Union" meeting 20/02/25
"Hello" and thank you everyone for coming today, I’d like to welcome you all to my home city of Sheffield, a city steeped in union tradition, from the vast steel works to the once thriving coal industry, the city has certainly seen it’s fair share of instances where unions have given essential support to its workers.
I welcome you here as the current Chair of Voice of the Postmaster, an organisation started just over 3 years ago to support Postmasters disillusioned by the lack of support and independence of other organisations, the general feeling being that it was not and still is not appropriate for an organisation representing postmasters to be funded by the very company who had anything but postmaster’s interests at heart.
We quickly grew as we strongly and publicly challenged POL continuously over the pathetic rate of remuneration given to postmasters and the extraordinary amount of money taken to run the organisation, we also challenged on the deep-lying culture within Post Office management that Postmasters were guilty of stealing money, when in fact it was a faulty IT system, compounded by the fact that they knew this and actively covered it up.
We have now been accepted as one of the three postmaster representative bodies and now have a place on the consultative council, which reports directly to the board, a fantastic achievement for a bunch of volunteers who have funded themselves for trips to London to see ministers of state and postal affairs ministers and to meet with various senior management within Post Office to challenge the status quo as being unacceptable to our futures. I would like to place on record my gratitude for everyone who has and continues to work on behalf of postmasters.
As with all successful voluntary organisations, you reach a point where your success demands more and more of your time, and you need more professional guidance to ensure that you are optimising every opportunity to properly represent the very people who have put their faith in you to protect their futures.
To this end, we started looking for a credible partner to join us in our mission. After much debate and research, we decided to approach Community Union, who we believe are best placed to help us on the next stage of our journey. This has proved to be an excellent choice, Community have been welcoming, open and patient with us from the very start. They have guided us through the process with no pressure and have even opened up contact with some of the other organisations that they have helped, to give us a better understanding of what we can expect.
Our hope is that this relationship will help us to better represent all postmasters to safeguard their investments and their futures. Never again should a postmaster be turned away when they need help most. I would urge every postmaster to join with Community Union to make sure that you have your say, not the opinion of someone who thinks they know what is best for you, but someone who asks you what you want for your future and demands it for you."
Postmaster Contracts
24/02/2025 As part of the Transformation plan "Post Office Ltd" is reviewing Postmasters Contracts. This will be in the near future
Ministerial Meeting 8th May 2025
Today, Community and Voice of the Postmaster (VOTP) held a productive meeting with Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Services, Small Businesses, and Exports.
The discussion focused on a number of key priorities affecting self-employed postmasters and small businesses, including ongoing challenges within the sector; the need for stronger protections and fair treatment; and how government policy can better support those working on the frontline of vital community services.
Tiffany Gillies, Assistant Operations Director at Community, said:
"We were grateful for the opportunity to meet the minister today, and he was appreciative of all the work VOTP have done to stand up for postmasters since their inception in 2022. It's clear that this government understands the vital role self-employed postmasters play in communities across the country, and as part of our partnership with VOTP we look forward to working with the minister to ensure that this group of workers get the protection and support they need in challenging times."
"Richard Trinder, Chair of Voice of the Postmaster, said
“We appreciate the time given by Minister Gareth Thomas MP today to hear about postmasters ongoing problems and concerns.
It was great to have Community Union at our meeting with the Minister today to add their particular experience in representing self-employed business people.”
Surviving the Post Office
Watching the BBC programme “Surviving the Post office” was truly emotional and once again shows the dreadful culture that pervades Post Office Ltd.
Unfortunately, and unbelievably except to Postmasters, that same culture persists to this day. Once again, we learnt what our fellow postmasters endured and the isolation that came with it. VOTP vigorously challenges Post Office Ltd on their comment made:
Horizon is obviously not “Robust” as has been demonstrated by the evidence presented to the Horizon Inquiry and the continuing experience of serving Postmasters.
Whoever in Post Office Ltd wrote and approved this statement should apologise publicly and unreservedly for the distress that this misleading statement has caused.
Compensation needs to be paid, before money is spent on a new computer system. We call on the Government to take control of the compensation schemes to ensure that full redress is paid without any further delay. This money should first go toward the redress for the victims, how can we move forwards and make a better future when the Government and Post Office Ltd will not properly address the failings of the past?
Post office Ltd should have no further involvement in the payment of redress except for providing information and we again ask the government for an independent panel to be bought in to fast track payments and redress, so we can rebuild the future network and safeguarding current postmasters’ investment in the business.
Phase 7 Enquiry
From the Inquiry. We urge everyone to complete the survey when you receive it.
Sir Wyn will make an address on this at the start of today's hearing at 12pm.Follow live on our YouTube channel.
16,000 people urged to share experiences of the Post Office, ahead of final stage of InquiryUp to 16,000 people are to be contacted this week by researchers commissioned by the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry as part of evidence gathering for its final phase, looking at current practice and procedure at the Post Office.Every current sub-postmaster in the UK will be asked about their experience working with the Post Office, and applicants under the Post Office's in-house compensation scheme (the Horizon Shortfall Scheme) will be asked about their experiences of this process.Findings of the two surveys, conducted by independent research and data analytics firm, YouGov, will be presented as evidence during the Inquiry's final phase, Phase 7, and will inform Inquiry Chair, Sir Wyn Williams' findinas and recommendations.
A Full transcript is available here
Message from Sir Wyn Williams on Phase 7 Surveys
Message from Sir Wynn
From the Inquiry. We urge everyone to complete the survey when you receive it.
Sir Wyn will make an address on this at the start of today's hearing at 12pm.Follow live on our YouTube channel.
16,000 people urged to share experiences of the Post Office, ahead of final stage of InquiryUp to 16,000 people are to be contacted this week by researchers commissioned by the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry as part of evidence gathering for its final phase, looking at current practice and procedure at the Post Office.Every current sub-postmaster in the UK will be asked about their experience working with the Post Office, and applicants under the Post Office's in-house compensation scheme (the Horizon Shortfall Scheme) will be asked about their experiences of this process.Findings of the two surveys, conducted by independent research and data analytics firm, YouGov, will be presented as evidence during the Inquiry's final phase, Phase 7, and will inform Inquiry Chair, Sir Wyn Williams' findinas and recommendations.
A Full transcript is available here
Thank You
Today, 3rd September 2024 the VOTP committee held a meeting with Gareth Thomas, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade. Also another meeting with two senior members of the executive team, representing the Chair of the Post Office.
During the meeting, a comprehensive roadmap was discussed for the future, with a primary focus on ensuring fair treatment of Postmasters. Moving forward, there will be ongoing engagement to address any issues and strive towards a more equitable system for all parties involved.
Post Office considering cutting two-thirds of jobs
Post Office considering cutting two-thirds of jobs
Some of the money saved would be used to improve the pay of sub-postmasters, The Telegraph understands
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/08/post-office-considering-cutting-two-thirds-of-jobs/
Post Office considering cutting two-thirds of jobs
Some of the money saved would be used to improve the pay of sub-postmasters, The Telegraph understands
Fiona Parker Senior News Reporter
08 October 2024 6:19pm BST
•
The Post Office commissioned an independent strategic review this summer amid the ongoing Horizon Inquiry Vuk Valcic/Zuma/Alamy
The Post Office is considering axing two-thirds of jobs in a drive to cut costs, The Telegraph can reveal.
A review into the sustainability and future of the Post Office was launched earlier this year by Nigel Railton, its interim chairman.
Plans are “under discussion” with the Government, the business’s only shareholder. They are expected to be shared with staff and sub-postmasters in the coming weeks.
The proposed swingeing cuts have led to fears that more Post Offices could close across the country.
The news came as Nick Read, Post Office chief executive, prepares to face his first of three days of questioning at the Horizon Inquiry on Wednesday.
Nick Read is giving evidence to the Horizon Inquiry this week Marcin Nowak/LNP/Shutterstock
The inquiry into the wrongful prosecution of 900 sub-postmasters – after Fujitsu software incorrectly recorded shortfalls in their accounts – has previously heard Mr Read was “obsessed with his pay” and repeatedly asked for pay rises.
Former HR director Jane Davies submitted a document to the Post Office which detailed complaints against Nick Read, while she was in her post.
A subsequent investigation exonerated the chief executive, but Ms Davies previously told MPs in a letter that she found the chief executive to be “obsessed with his pay” to such an extent that it was “a huge distraction” from her establishing herself in her new role.
‘Seeking views’
Announcing the strategic review earlier this year, the Post Office said it would be seeking the “views of the serving postmasters and other stakeholders with an interest in the Post Office’s role in communities across the country”.
Yet The Telegraph understands one recommendation currently being considered could result in Post Office staff numbers being slashed from around 3,100 to approximately 1,000.
It is understood that the recommended reductions are intended to help cut more than £200 million in costs, with plans to use at least some of the saved money to improve sub-postmasters’ pay.
Any cut to Post Office staffing would not affect sub-postmasters, independent operators who run the vast proportion of the UK’s 11,500 branches.
However, it raises the possibility that the country’s dwindling Crown Post Office network, run by staff directly employed by the business, could be reduced still further.
As of March 2023, there were just 117 Crown branches remaining in the UK.
Jobs to be cut could also include those of staff working in the company’s London headquarters.
The review is also expected to say whether a number of branches, in some of the most rural parts of the country, will see vital grants reduced dramatically.
Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed that nine branches could be forced to reduce their hours or close after the Post Office had written to them to say that the “exceptional payments” they received from the business would be reduced or cut altogether.
When The Telegraph approached the Post Office about the affected postmasters, the business said it would not go ahead with the changes until the strategic review was completed.
James Cartlidge, a Tory MP and former defence minister whose constituent was affected by the plans, likened the review to a “sword of Damocles” over the postmasters’ heads.
Much-anticipated evidence
On Wednesday, Mr Read will make his much-anticipated appearance at the inquiry, to which he will give evidence over three days.
Mr Read, who announced in September that he would be leaving his job in March 2025, is likely to be questioned on claims that he repeatedly asked for more money and threatened to resign when his requests were refused.
Last week, Henry Staunton, the former chairman of the Post Office, was questioned over a letter he sent to Grant Shapps when the latter was business secretary about a “critical situation” regarding Mr Read’s pay package.
Writing that Tim Parker, Mr Staunton’s predecessor, had raised similar concerns about the chief executive’s pay on two previous occasions, Mr Staunton suggested that Mr Read’s base salary should be raised from £415,000 to £535,800 – and his total compensation packaged hiked from £788,500 to £1,125,180.
Mr Staunton also told Mr Shapps that he should recognise that “if Nick were to resign” any replacement would be seeking a minimum of £1 million for their overall pay package.
When asked about the letter, Mr Staunton said: “It was obviously just a massive salary increase for – in a company where it wasn’t a normal corporate. It’s – it was a public – owned by the public, paid for by the public purse.”
A Post Office spokesman said: “Our interim chair commissioned an independent review that’s looking at the sustainability of our branches and how we can best serve communities into the future.
“He has been clear from the outset that remediation for postmasters affected by the IT scandal and providing postmasters with a higher revenue share are his priorities.
“A range of recommendations are currently under discussion with the Government, and we are engaging with bodies representing Postmasters as these discussions continue.”
A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: “The future of the Post Office is crucial for customers, postmasters, businesses and communities, helping to drive growth across the country.
“Nigel Railton has commissioned a wide-ranging, independent review regarding its future direction and a number of recommendations are currently under discussion.”
Post Office Horizon Enquiry
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