Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Royal Mail has announced that it is to close three of its UK mail centers, which will affect a total of 767 staff. The plants in Cambridge (200 jobs), Gloucester (327 jobs) and Shrewsbury (240 jobs) will close by early 2014. The company blamed the closures on declining letter volumes.
Royal mail has reduced the number of mail centres considerably in recent years. In 2007, there were 69 centres open, but only 51 remain in 2012 and there are plans to close a further 13. The company has successively reduced traditional mail distribution centres, while expanding its parcel business.
Employees and their trade unions have been consulted over the last 8 months. The company has said that it is working hard with the unions to identify alternative roles for affected employees, effectively through relocation. It has confirmed that it will offer subsidies for those workers that will commute further to reach their new place of work.
Eurofound (2012), Royal Mail, Closure in United Kingdom, factsheet number 74479, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/74479.