CWU accuses RM f deserting city with centre closure threat

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Union accuses Royal Mail of deserting city with centre closure threat

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UNION chiefs have accused Royal Mail bosses of wanting to desert Stoke-on-Trent at the first opportunity after being given Government funding to create jobs in the area.

Officials at the Communication Workers' Union claim Royal Mail wants to shut its Etruria customer services centre over the next 18 months.

Closing the centre would lead to the loss of 400 jobs – more than 20 per cent of the firm's workforce in Stoke-on-Trent, Leek and Stafford.

And the union says the move would also spell the end of hundreds of positions taken up by seasonal workers, including the 700 extra members of staff who are usually taken on by the centre at Christmas.


Royal Mail has confirmed it is reviewing its customer services facilities across the country but says no decision has been made about the future of the Etruria centre.

Lee Barron, the CWU's regional secretary, pictured, said Royal Mail had an obligation to remain in Stoke-on-Trent as the firm had been given a subsidy as an incentive to create jobs in the city.

He said: "They received Government money to create this centre in 2002 and they committed to staying open for 10 years.

"That takes them up to 2012, so if they close the centre in the next 18 months they will be leaving at the first available opportunity and taking the cash with them.

"I think that is morally corrupt. We want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the local community to save local jobs."

Maxine Tuck, the union's area admin representative, said workers at the centre had been horrified to learn their jobs might be under threat. She said the centre ran Royal Mail's redirection service for the whole country, as well as dealing with lost international mail.

She said: "The staff have specialist skills and if the centre closes that expertise would be lost. It would take a lot of years to train people to the standard we have at the centre now, so the service people receive will be affected."

The Media Way premises are also used by customer care staff and data entry workers who decipher addresses which cannot be read by mail machines.

Union official Dave Condliffe said: "Royal Mail has a history of taking jobs out of Stoke-on-Trent and we want to know why."

He added that between 800 and 1,000 Royal Mail jobs had been taken out of Stoke-on-Trent over the last decade.

The union's Midland No 7 branch, based in Hanley, is now planning to start a petition and take it around the city's six towns as well as Newcastle and Leek.

Shaun Pender, the branch's recruitment and organising officer, said the loss of 400 jobs would have an impact on the local economy.

He said: "It won't just impact on the individuals losing their jobs, it will have a knock-on affect on local businesses too as people will be spending less money.

"This area can't afford to lose any more jobs."

Branch official Paul Malyon said: "Cutting jobs in Stoke-on-Trent sends out the wrong message to any businesses looking to come here."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We are currently reviewing customer services accommodation across the country and have been keeping our team at Stoke-on-Trent informed.

"No decisions have been made about the outcome of the review and certainly the information we have provided should not be interpreted to indicate the closure of the centre in 12 to 18 months' time."