Suspicion over Royal Mail threats to cut 40,000 jobs

Postal workers’ reps say they won’t be intimidated by rumours that Royal Mail plans to slash 40,000 jobs over the next five years.

Unnamed government aides say axing a quarter of the workforce will make it more attractive to private buyers.

Royal Mail is already cutting 7,000 jobs a year. The new plan would mean a further 15,000 posts lost.

But senior figures in the postal workers’ CWU union are suspicious of the rumours.

“I think the timing of this story is important,” Paul Moffat, secretary of the union’s Eastern region, said.

“A major battle over job losses has started in London and could spread nationally.

“Suddenly, stories like this start circulating. The bosses are trying to intimidate us into accepting cuts.

“Well, we won’t be cowed. The CWU will fight every redundancy threat will all of our power.”