Posties deliver petition to Number 10

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.creweguardian.co.uk/news/376 ... Number_10/

12:40pm Friday 17th October 2008
By Mark Hilditch »


POSTAL workers from Crewe lobbyied Number 10 Downing Street yesterday in a fight to save hundreds of jobs in the town.

Plans being pushed through by Royal Mail to close the Weston Road sorting office, replacing it with a new centre in Warrington, could mean the loss of 600 jobs.

Six postal workers and union members travelled to the capital to present the Prime Minister with a petition of 10,000 names supporting their campaign to keep the Crewe Mail Centre open.

Union bosses say the 73-mile round trip to Warrington would prove far too costly for the vast majority of workers.

Steve Wright, CWU Cheshire branch secretary, said: “It is feasible to retain the Crewe site and save on travel expenses.

“The site can absorb additional traffic if necessary, and does not require an extension.

“It is extremely unlikely that employees would travel the distances suggested on one of the UK’s busiest motorways.

“This lack of choice leaves a distinct possibility of some members literally facing compulsory redundancies.”

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, local councillors, business community and residents have all signed the petition in support of the union’s position.

Mr Wright added: “We call on Royal Mail’s owners, the Government, to intercede and stop this madness.

“No doubt the closure of the Crewe mail centre will have a detrimental effect on the service we provide to the general public and businesses especially deliveries.”

The petition states: “We the undersigned wish to support the workers of Royal Mail in Crewe in keeping the existing site and securing their jobs.”

Mr Wright will deliver the petition along with Margret Robinson, Frank Dunn, Steve Gough, Martin Gogger and Ron Evans who all work at the Crewe Mail Centre.

A rally and march in support of the campaign will also be taking place in Crewe on Saturday October 25.