http://www.creweguardian.co.uk/news/370 ... e_closure/
8:30am Monday 29th September 2008
HUNDREDS of Crewe postal workers battling to save their jobs are to stage a rally to show bosses the strength of feeling over the issue.
Some 600 jobs are under threat at the Royal Mail sorting office on Weston Road and workers hope the show of unity will enlist public support from across the community.
Under Royal Mail’s proposals 600 Crewe jobs are to be transferred to either Warrington or Liverpool as part of a major scheme to ‘streamline’ the service.
But union bosses claim the loss of the Crewe office would lead to a poorer service and would be devastating for the workers and the local economy.
A provisional date of October 25 has been pencilled in for the protest march and rally – but union chiefs say this has to be confirmed by the council.
Steve Wright, branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: “Postal workers in Crewe are angry with management because they have left them in limbo.
“They are closing the office for closing’s sake and for a quick saving.
“They seem to have come up with the idea on a whim and are now trying to come come up with reasons to justify the decision, but there is no justification.
“We are hoping to have a rally at the end of October, with a march ending at the Municipal Square when there will be speakers.
“Management are not in talks with us at the moment – they seem to think they have made the final decision and that’s it.”
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson met with Stephen Cameron, head of Royal Mail’s northern territory, last week.
The politician told him that despite promises he had been provided with no evidence to suggest that the Crewe site was not fit for purpose.
And according to leaked documents, he said the Crewe site scored much higher than Liverpool in ‘operational criteria’.
The Royal Mail representative stressed they were seeking to avoid compulsary redundancy at all costs.
Closing the meeting, Mr Timpson said: “Don’t underestimate the impact this closure is going to have on people here. They just can’t afford to travel to Warrington or Liverpool.
“You’ve said that the closure of the Crewe mail centre is your final decision, but this issue isn’t going to go away and I will keep fighting to have it reviewed.”
Borough council leaders will meet with Royal Mail management about the issue on Monday.