HUNDREDS OF POSTAL WORKERS MARCH AGAINST ROYAL MAIL CLOSURE

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org.uk/news.asp?step=3&NID=2162

On Saturday 15th November, hundreds of postal workers and their families will join the business community, politicians and members of the public in a march through Bletchley, Milton Keynes against the closure of the mail centre, culminating in a rally.

Paul Moffat, CWU Eastern Regional Secretary, said: “The Milton Keynes Mail Centre directly employs around 600 people. All of these jobs are threatened by Royal Mail’s proposal to close the mail centre.

“Milton Keynes has one of the fastest growing economies in the UK. If this closure went ahead it would rip out jobs and services from an area of diversity and growth and could threaten the success of other businesses in the area.

“We have submitted a realistic alternative strategy to Royal Mail that would retain work in Milton Keynes, but it has so far been dismissed out of hand. We’re fighting for a sustainable and successful future for the mail industry in Milton Keynes which benefits the local community and businesses as well as postal workers.”


All media invited to attend

13.00: March assembles at Milton Keynes Mail Centre, Dawson Road, MK1 1AA

14.00: March leaves Dawson Road along a planned route to the Bandstand, Queensway, Bletchley.

14.30: Rally at the Bandstand. Speakers include:
· Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary
· Phyliss Starkey MP
· Reg Edwards, Eaton Manor Town Councillor
· John Farnan, CWU national executive member
· Paul Olden, CWU Branch Secretary (Eastern No 6)

Save Milton Keynes Mail Centre: Our Jobs, Our Community, Your Service, Everyone’s Future

[Big Daz]

This has been featured on the local news yesterday and today.

Paul Moffat Eastern reg sec and Barry Jennings Anglia Divisional rep both were featured.

[wranglered]

so what Paul Moffatt and Barry Jennings were featured?

it is still going to close......

[Wessex]

so what Paul Moffatt and Barry Jennings were featured?

it is still going to close......

Why so defeatist ? Perhaps if you had taken the time to join the rally you would have met the lovely people of MK and would want to fight for them,regards wessex

[wranglered]

Not defeatist...realist. We here all this cobblers from the CWU about how they are going to try and put business solutions to RM about alternatives to closure. Don't make me laugh...some of the hierarchy can barely read, let alone write feasibility studies....The union should spend more time protecting the MTSF agreement...did you know that is all over in 2010?

If you are one of those threatened, I would take what is on offer whilst it is still on the table....

Used to live in MK, wife's daughter lives there...much maligned city...in my mind a great place....

BUT there is no point fighting a totally lost battle, one the union lost a year ago when it did not have the bottle to pursue the IA whilst RM was on the ropes....

[dvbuk55]

Not defeatist...realist. We here all this cobblers from the CWU about how they are going to try and put business solutions to RM about alternatives to closure. Don't make me laugh...some of the hierarchy can barely read, let alone write feasibility studies....The union should spend more time protecting the MTSF agreement...did you know that is all over in 2010?

If you are one of those threatened, I would take what is on offer whilst it is still on the table....

Used to live in MK, wife's daughter lives there...much maligned city...in my mind a great place....

BUT there is no point fighting a totally lost battle, one the union lost a year ago when it did not have the bottle to pursue the IA whilst RM was on the ropes....

And I'm afraid I have to agree with you. There is little point in marching when RM won't come to the table to discuss change and the only threat the CWU have is industrial action, which in itself is a double edged sword. You are quite right to say that there is little in the way of academia about the leadership who probably wouldn't know a feasibility study if it bit them in the backside. If it is feasible for the place to remain open then we should make it known to the public concerned and make political waves at local level and if it isn't feasible then we should recognise that and try to protect the individuals livelihoods and make sure all measure of compensation due is paid in full.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

There is an argument though that even if your cause is doomed to failure sometimes with enough public pressure generated by such things as marches, demos and petitions, sometimes you can gain concessions which help negate the overall impact of the opposed plans. In other words even if the war is lost it doesn't mean you should give up on the battles.

Well that's how I view it. Public opinion is a powerful tool when used properly.

[kingtubby]

The union should spend more time protecting the MTSF agreement...did you know that is all over in 2010?

Agreed. Do you have any details on the future of the MTSF? Such as when in 2010 does the current agreement finish.

[wranglered]

No date....the CWU hierarchy must know 'cos that is where my info came from...I would guess the 1st of January knowing Royal Mail.....but I am hearing loads more redundancies on the way and no money for EVR's....guess we will give up with a fight on this one as well and we will all be down the road with the statutory minimum....happy days...well done the CWU!!!

[kingtubby]

No date....the CWU hierarchy must know 'cos that is where my info came from...I would guess the 1st of January knowing Royal Mail.....but I am hearing loads more redundancies on the way and no money for EVR's....guess we will give up with a fight on this one as well and we will all be down the road with the statutory minimum....happy days...well done the CWU!!!

Thanks - We had WTL sessions held by local senior manager and he referred to the MTSF as 'MTSF 2'. No doubt it was a slip of the tongue on his part, but perhaps a future version of the 'agreement' was hinted at there...

[wranglered]

sounds like it! we are being run out of town!

[dvbuk55]

No date....the CWU hierarchy must know 'cos that is where my info came from...I would guess the 1st of January knowing Royal Mail.....but I am hearing loads more redundancies on the way and no money for EVR's....guess we will give up with a fight on this one as well and we will all be down the road with the statutory minimum....happy days...well done the CWU!!!

Thanks - I'm at one of the MC's that is due to close. We had WTL sessions held by local senior manager and he referred to the MTSF as 'MTSF 2'. No doubt it was a slip of the tongue on his part, but perhaps a future version of the 'agreement' was hinted at there...

NO don't tell me MTSF2 is something else that hasn't been agreed behind closed doors.

[Big Daz]

I seem to recall the term MTSF 2 got a feeling a few changes were made to reflect changes in the law of the land, that is something neither CWU or RM would have had very much control over.

[wranglered]

Mark my words Big Daz...the MTSF as we know it will be gone and the CWU will just let it happen...