Stevenage mail centre to fight closure threat

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by Paul Turnbull, CWU Area Processing Rep, Eastern No 4

Royal Mail’s threat to close Stevenage mail centre is going to face resistance.

Around 70 postal workers packed into a meeting of our CWU union branch on Sunday and agreed to launch a major campaign to protect their jobs and the public service we provide.

We agreed to launch a petition—which will be up for download on the web at http://www.cwu-e4.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;—and to organise a march in Stevenage town centre. We hope these initiatives will gain support throughout the local trade union movement.

The threat to close the mail centre will have serious repercussions. Those workers who remain with Royal Mail are facing a 50-mile round trip to work at the mail centre in Hemel Hempstead. Meanwhile the service to the public will suffer and more lorries, driving longer distances, will have a damaging effect on traffic and the environment.

Barry Jennings, CWU divisional rep, and Steve Glennon, Stevenage TUC secretary, both pledged their full support for the campaign. Barry said, “A campaign will make a difference—I am with you all the way.”

Royal Mail has announced scores of mail centre closures in recent weeks. It is vital that our union stands up to this job slaughter. We hope that by campaigning over Stevenage we can inspire othes facing similar attacks.

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[fishtank]

Barry Jennings, CWU divisional rep, and Steve Glennon, Stevenage TUC secretary, both pledged their full support for the campaign. Barry said, “A campaign will make a difference—I am with you all the way.”

And here was me thinking you couldn't protect bricks and mortar.
Well done Stevenage,Barry and Steve for at least giving it a try.
Surely trying and failing is better than not trying at all.

[clashcityrocker]

Surely trying and failing is better than not trying at all.

That would depend what resources you used up in your Quixotic fight?

[sadlersbitch]

Well done "Colin" Jennings how about WGC where are we going? the BIG rumour is into an empty Stevenage MLO anyone hear anything different? Royal Mail want us to "fill" our days with work so giving us 1hour to one and a half hours travelling a day to and from our delivery is madness less time to deliver though

[gazza82]

Good luck stevenage, you will need it, i was at crewe mail centre no body helped us at all. shafted in other words. And now mail posted in crewe takes a week to get back to crewe.VIA WARRINGTON Thats progress for you, the way forward. MY ARSE.