Royal Mail job pledge to workers

Royal Mail has pledged to find jobs within the firm for all workers affected by the closure of Coventry's main postal sorting office.

The Bishop Street office will shut and operations move near Northampton, the Post Office announced on Monday.

Royal Mail local area manager Michael Stockdale said "more than half" of about 500 jobs would be in Coventry where two delivery centres are planned.

The Communication Workers Union said it would still fight the closure.

Royal Mail confirmed the sorting office would close at a meeting with union officials on Monday after consultations took place.

It said the Coventry site was no longer suitable and was relocating to Junction 15a of the M1, near Northampton.

Mr Stockdale said the location was the "best fit" geographically for its network and network hubs.

'Fight continues'

"It's not a decision that we have taken lightly," he said.

"What we have said is that we will be able to find jobs within Royal Mail for people who want one, going forward."

More than half can remain in Coventry, while the others will be offered a job at the new sorting hub and a package to pay for travelling costs, he said.

But Mick Kavanagh, from the Communication Workers Union, said the campaign to save the city's sorting office was "still winnable".

"We are going to do everything that we can to make sure we keep a sorting centre in Coventry and Warwickshire," he said.

"Not just for our members but also for the public in Coventry and Warwickshire."