LTB 616/18 Post Office: Save Our Post Office - Campaign Activities

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LTB 616/18 Post Office: Save Our Post Office - Campaign Activities

No. 616/2018

2nd November 2018



Dear Colleagues

POST OFFICE: SAVE OUR POST OFFICE – CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES

Further to LTB 615/18 – Post Office: Save our Post Office – National Briefing and Event. We have now launched our Microsite which can be accessed by using the following link:

http://www.saveourpostoffice.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Branches are urged to publicise this Microsite as widely as possible. Our activists and members are able to write to their MP via an electronic model letter and sign our petition within a few seconds using the site, which also contains information about our campaign. We are also in the process of updating our campaign packs which will be available both electronically and in hard copy in time for the National Briefing on 8th November.

EDM 1751 – Crown Post Office Closure and Privatisation

The following EDM has kindly been tabled by Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central which has been signed by 12 MPs in just a few days:

That this House is deeply concerned by the recent announcement that 74 Crown post offices will be closed and franchised to WHSmith, which will mean a total loss of 60 per cent of Crown offices since 2013; notes the use of public funds to finance the closure and franchise programme despite the fact that the public has never endorsed the closures, and has only ever protested against such closures; further notes that in 2014-15, £13 million of public funds was used to pay compensation to reduce the number of post office staff and that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) estimates the staff compensation cost of the latest privatisation will be at least £30 million, with 800 jobs now at risk; recognises that research by Consumer Focus in 2012 and Citizens Advice in 2016 shows that WHSmith franchises result in longer queuing times, inferior service and advice and poor disabled access; questions the privatisation of profit-making Crown offices and handing them to a retailer which is closing stores and relies on a business model of low pay and part-time employment; notes that this round of privatisation will also see the loss of prime high street Crown office stores and that this will contribute to the demise of town centres; and urges the Government to stop this wasteful and unpopular franchising programme and to work with stakeholders, including the CWU, to develop a new strategy that safeguards the future of the post office.

The EDM can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.parliament.uk/edm/2017-19/1751" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All Branches are urged to use the attached model letter to write to their MPs and encourage them to sign EDM 1751. Even if there are no affected Crown Offices within your Branch area, there is no guarantee that there won’t be further franchising announcements in the future. It is therefore imperative we get as many signatures as possible to the EDM.

All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Post Offices

On Tuesday 30th October, I, along with Lynn Simpson, Postal Executive member, Natasha Burgess, Political Advisor and Mark Baker, Postmasters Branch Secretary attended an APPG on Post Offices in Westminster chaired by Gill Furniss, Shadow Postal Affairs Minister. There were 5 senior Post Office managers in the room to answer questions.

A web story regarding the APPG including a quote from Gill Furniss can be accessed by using the following link:

https://www.cwu.org/news/mounting-parli ... sing-plan/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Drop in Session for Labour MPs – Thursday 1st November

On 1st November we held a two hour drop in session for Labour MPs to discuss the privatisation of the 74 Crowns to WHSmith. Around 20 MPs attended the session during the morning and we were delighted with the support received for our campaign and the associated activities. Photos from the event will be available on our website and social media pages.

I would like to place on record my thanks to Natasha Burgess for her assistance and hard work in liaising with the relevant parties at the APPG and also for organising the drop in session with MPs yesterday.

Further developments in regards to our Save Our Post Office campaign activities will be reported.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be directed to Lea Sheridan on 020 8971 7361 or lsheridan@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely



Andy Furey

Assistant Secretary

18LTB616 Post Office – Save our Post Office – Campaign Activities Attachment 1 to 18LTB616 – Model Letter EDM 1751 http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-nykduul-ztkjiuyil-u/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View Online http://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-nykduul-ztkjiuyil-o/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;