Fight for postal jobs starts here

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.creweguardian.co.uk/news/362 ... arts_here/

By Mark Hilditch »


THE fightback begins this weekend to save 600 postal jobs in Crewe.

Union bosses, local politicians and business leaders will be orchestrating a campaign to rescue the Weston Road sorting office from closure.

They will be speaking at a special meeting at the Crewe Alex ground on Sunday at 11am.

Workers will hear from local MP Edward Timpson, council leader John Hammond and the chief executive of South Cheshire Chamber John Dunning.

They will also hear from national officers from the Communication Workers Union, about action they can take to prevent the closure.

The office has been earmarked for the axe along with Liverpool’s Copperas Hill site, as part of a major shake-up to streamline and automate the service.

But local union spokesman Steve Wright said: “The move would be horrendous for the service and for all the workers at Crewe.

“We will do everything we can to prevent it happening.”

The campaign to save the office has also received the support of local Liberal Democrat leader Gwyn Griffith, who branded the plans as ‘barmy’.

He said that the closure would be devastating for workers, damage postal services for local people and businesses, and create needless environmental damage.

He added: “These plans will leave many staff in an impossible position, of having to give up hours of time each week to commute to work, or to face a jobs market which is becoming harder and harder as the economy tightens.

“We will be backing these workers as they fight to protect jobs.”

“In addition local residents and businesses will face a decline in services as mail is shipped around the country to be sorted, instead of being handled locally”.

Cllr Griffiths has been told that under Royal Mail’s proposals a letter posted in Crewe and addressed to Alsager, will be sent to Warrington for sorting, then to a West Midlands office in Wolverhampton, before going to Alsager via Stoke.

He added: “To move the letter over a distance of about six miles ‘as the crow flies’ Royal Mail will transport it for around 150 miles!

“At a time when we are supposed to be reducing road transport Royal Mail seems determined to send local mail over longer and longer distances, shutting local offices, and reducing local services.

“The whole approach is barmy!”

The plans will see the work at Crewe move to an existing centre in Warrington.

Royal Mail territory director Steve Cameron said: “We have now shared our preferred option with our people and we firmly believe these proposals represent the best option for our future mail centre network in the North West. “These changes are not expected to take place until 2009, and we are committed to continuing to consult with the trade unions.”

[norbert]

" shared with our people ? " - what in Stars Panel - The Courier ? - RM will go down the Dutch TNT route anyway due to Postcon Pressure - also there's no mention of redundancy terms should "RM's people" not wish to commute