PLAID AM Nerys Evans has warned that the decision by Post Office Ltd to introduce a pay cut on its members this year will mean that many smaller post offices in areas like rural Powys could be once again at risk of closing. Post Office Ltd pays all the country’s 9,000 sub-postmasters a fixed income although the amount varies according to the size of the business.
This decision has come even though Post Office Ltd has managed to award at least £10 million in bonuses to senior managers, as well as the expected announcement that the company has made profits of £62 million this year.
Plaid’s Nerys Evans and former sub postmistress said: “This news is terribly worrying for our local sub-postmasters as concerns grow once again about the future of our smaller rural post offices. It’s very difficult to understand why they would cut the income of our sub-postmasters for the second year running but at the same time being able to find enough money to award at least £10 million to their senior managers. On top of this it is understood that Post Office Ltd has made a profit of up to £62 million this year.
Unfortunately, it will be the ordinary people who suffer as a result and following the closure of 2,500 post offices over the last 18 months this will come as a further blow to many communities across Powys. It’s about time the London parties started to realise the vital importance of post offices to thousands of communities in rural areas like Powys and they need to start doing more to sustain them. Our Post Offices play an invaluable economic and social role in our communities but unfortunately there is a complete lack of understanding from the London Parties.”