Union fears on the future of post offices in WH Smith
One Sangh has expressed concern over the future of its members who work in post offices working inside WH Smith’s shops.
WH Smith is negotiating on the potential sale of its high street stores as the business has become more concentrated at its shops in airports and service and train stations.
It has questioned the future of 195 post offices kept within these shops. Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents post office staff in shops, warned that any possible closure would be “disastrous”.
A post office spokesperson said that the BBC has kept the company in touch with the retailer on its plans.
Since the sale of the potential high street stores of WH Smith has emerged over the weekend, BBC has been approached by several people, asking about the fate of post offices within the shops.
WH Smith has stated that its high street store remains “profitable and cash-generative parts” of the group, and it is searching for various options, “including a possible sales”.
It states: “There can be no certainty that any compromise will be reached, and will be provided as further updates and when suitable.”
The BBC understands the commercial relationship between both the retailer and the post office, with gains for both sides, so any new potential buyer can maintain the current system.
The announcement has been made amid a difficult economic approach to high road retailers.
The first of 500 stores of WH Smith was opened over 230 years ago, working as a news vendor. It has since developed in a major high road and travel retailer.
WH Smith’s travel retail trade side – which operates from airports, train stations and hospitals – now more than 85% of its profit and operates 1,200 stores in 32 countries.
The post office stated that it was in touch with WH Smith “more understanding about his plans for his high street store”.
A CWU spokesperson said that any possible closed “would be” disastrous, but they are sad that all are very estimated “.
The Sangh said, “For a very long time, some communities are being converted into a post -desert, and evil economic decisions are erasing high roads above and down the country,” the Sangh said.
