Thursday 23rd - Conference Call

[The BFO]

I want to know how The BFO knows I have a hairy arse?

All Branch Managers have Hairy Arses - Ronnie Flynn told me.

[rwbarker]

The BFO's summary of my conference call is pretty accurate. Glad you found it sufficiently interesting to note down and communicate to others.

There were 387 people on the call - or to be more accurate, 387 discrete lines were opened - typically some people share lines on speaker 'phones. I suspect that means there were about 300 BMs (hairy arsed or not) which, given that participation is voluntary, is a pretty good turn out.

There was a glitch with the technology which meant some people who wanted to ask questions could not register their presence. But, generally, I thought the questions asked were good, and covered the main points about whch BMs are concerned.

barker

[billyhayes]

To "rwbarker"... Would you be so kind as to answer a couple of questions?

These questions are asked of me up and down my region when I visit offices or when I talk to members on the phone.

They are only of a 'trifling matter' and obviously are important only to frontline CWU members and NOT management, or they would have been asked on Thursday.

1) WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN APRIL 2011?

2) ACCORDING TO SENIOR SOURCES AT CWU, THERE WILL BE MASS CLOSURES, NOT FRANCHISES, ANNOUNCED. ANY TRUTH IN THIS?

3) WILL THE BANK OF IRELAND BE THE NEW FACE OF POL AS THEY ARE SNEAKING IN THE BACK DOOR VIA THEIR UK SUBSIDIARY.
(WE ALREADY ARE DE-FACTO AS WE SELL MANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS).

The membership do not have a 6 month plan.

99% fully intended to make a career out of staying with Post Office Limited.

They are "in it for the long term".

There's a lot of hardworking, loyal, stressed and worried people out there.

Thanks in advance.

PS - Of course if this is just some clown pretending to Be Richard Barker then I have just wasted 2 minutes typing this out!

[rwbarker]

You're not wasting your time, but that doesn't mean I can tell you everything you're looking for in your questions.

What happens in April 2011 will depend largely on the outcome of funding discussions with Govt. But, as ever, the future of the Crown Network will also depend upon whether we can demonstrate that we can get the business back on a sound commercial footing. Everything said on the conference call was about a continuation of the priorities we need to focus upon to achieve that objective.

There are absolutely no plans for mass closures of Crown Post Offices.

The JV with the Bank of Ireland has provided us with a range of products, and valuable marketing support, which are helping to replace the income we have lost from traditional, government products. But, this is just one aspect of our business. The public face of the business will always be the Post Office. Along with development of our FS business, we will continue to seek out other new income streams such as Identity Services and other 'new' services for Government.

barker

[The BFO]

Today I sold €110 to a customer at a cost to them of £100.92.Had my next customer been selling me €110, I would have given them £84.62 – the margin on the two transactions would therefore have been £16.30. My branch would have been credited with Income of £1.38, a difference of nearly £15. Given the large volume of Travel Money business transacted through my offices, if I were the Head of Crown Offices I would be asking questions about this disparity.
Unless of course I wished to promote the idea that Crown Offices are not ‘on a sound commercial footing’

[billyhayes]

Bingo! Ad infinitum...

[Running Man]

Could rwbarker confirm that "no mass closures of crown post offices" also means no mass conversions of crown post office either?

I think it's fair to say that POL people generally see a conversion as a closure rather than the more specific meaning of the word closure.

If there are to be no closures or conversions then how on earth can the crown network be in profit by 2011? (Or are we relying purely on a government handout that may or may not be forthcoming?)

[billyhayes]

As I suspected. A non-answer. The Running Man is right. We crown office bods see franchises etc etc as CLOSURES. Who the hell wants TUPE and then be on minimum wage in a years time?? FFS!
This is what's waiting around the corner in my opinion... Conversions.
WHSmiths wanted far more than they got last time round.

Another 100 or so is my guess.

Any other bets?

[Running Man]

Given that rwbarker visited this forum at 904pm on Monday 27th September he must have seen the post about closures and conversions.

Given that an answer has not been forthcoming to the question of conversions then are we to assume that the proverbial nail has been hit on the proverbial head?

By the way, I think Billy's guess of 100 conversions is a little on the low side. Double it and add about 50 is my best guess.

Any advance on 250???

[subbie]

Should we prepare for more Sub Post Offices being opened?

Subbie

[POSTMAN]

Given that rwbarker visited this forum at 904pm on Monday 27th September

May i ask who this guy is,is he one of your bosses?

[billyhayes]

Richard Barker is General Manager of POL.

Though he is obviously claiming to be, whether user rwbarker is the 'actual' Richard Barker...

[POSTMAN]

Richard Barker is General Manager of POL.

Though he is obviously claiming to be, whether user rwbarker is the 'actual' Richard Barker...

Oh right,would the real Richard Barker come on here,possibly,but to post!

[billyhayes]

...would the real Richard Barker come on here, possibly, but to post!

Precisely.

[Running Man]

The silence is deafening Mr. Barker.

Is there something you don't want to tell us?