The future of the An Post Mail Centre in Athlone is secure and with it the employment of approximately 180 part and full time staff who work at the facility.
The decision, taken by An Post, comes as much relief to the present staff members, who feared for their job security. The confirmation that jobs at the Athlone Mail Centre are now secure is in stark contrast to the news that 240 of their work colleagues are to lose their positions in Cork, this impact to be felt on a phased basis between September and March of next year.
Speaking as the news was made public, Senator Gabrielle McFadden expressed her delight that the facility will now remain open thus securing employment therein.
“The news that Athlone Mail Centre is to remain open is a great relief to the workers and their families. It is a recognition of the quality and location of the facility but in particular of the commitment and attitude of the staff.
“While one cannot but feel sympathy for those who have lost their jobs in Cork, I am glad that I was able to use my role in the Seanad to make the case for Athlone. delighted that it is to remain open.
Let us hope that An Post now uses the money saved from shutting one mail centre to reinvest and to grow their business to ensure that there is a positive future for all their employees,” Senator McFadden stated.
Welcoming the news, local Minister, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, remarked that as Athlone is a designated growth centre it was vital that the jobs were not lost.
“Obviously, I am delighted with this outcome. Together with my Dáil colleague, Deputy Denis Naughten, we made representations to the Minister, stating that the potential loss of such jobs was wrong and should not happen in a designated growth town. There was a lot of toing and froing in the last number of weeks, but thankfully, the jobs in the Mail Centre have been secured,” Minister Moran remarked.
Echoing similar welcoming sentiments, Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke, noted that the staff were “relieved”, yet on “alert” with regard to the news.
“It is much welcome to hear that the axe has not fallen on the jobs in the Mail Centre and I was delighted to highlight the job security concerns of the staff working within the facility.
“From speaking with the staff on an ongoing basis they feel that more changes may be on the way, but for the moment this news has to be very much welcomed,” Cllr. O’Rourke emphasised.
