An Post says the contract to source a private contractor to run the Tipperary Town Post office is likely to be advertised in the next few days.
Last month An Post announced that Tipperary town Post Office and 6 other Post Offices are to be converted to contractor run offices rather than being managed by An Post. The vast majority of the 900 plus Post Offices in Ireland are now managed by Postmasters represented for the most part by The Irish Postmasters’ Union.
An Post expects that the yet to be appointed Postmaster in Tipperary town will likely seek a new location for the operation – a petition set up by two Tipperary town based Councillors is asking An Post to ensure the location is in the town centre. The petition launched by Cllr Anne Marie Ryan and Tony Black has secured 981 signatures to date and can be found at this link here.
Angus Lafferty, Public Affairs Manager with An Post says the internal An Post process in such cases is that staff are informed and given time to look at the various options available to them. Then the contract is advertised even if an existing staff member expresses interest in taking on the new role as Postmaster. The existing staff in Tipperary town retail office can seek to relocate within the An Post Network, transfer to other An Post duties or seek employment with the new Postmaster on different terms and conditions.
As regards Cashel Post Office Mr Lafferty says no date is fixed yet for the relocation from the Post Office building on Hogan Square to SuperValu on Main street who have been confirmed as the successful applicant to take on the contract – it is understood that An Post seek a 7 year lease in such situations. Staff working in mail sorting and distribution in Cashel are expected to make use of the soon to be vacated portion of the building.
