Unions launch petition to save 400 jobs under threat in city

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By dave knapper dave.knapper@thesentinel.co.uk

UNION officials have launched a campaign to save hundreds of jobs at a Royal Mail call centre after the firm admitted it was under review.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) hit the streets in Newcastle yesterday to gauge opinion on plans by Royal Mail to review its facility in Etruria.

And in less than two hours, hundreds of people had signed their petition.

Shaun Pender, recruitment and organising officer at the CWU's Hanley-based Midlands No 7 branch, said: "We found that people were very sympathetic towards the workers and they really empathised with the need to protect jobs."
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Closure of 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.

As part of their campaign, the CWU will target each of Stoke-on-Trent's six towns over the approaching months.

Mr Pender added: "We were only in Newcastle for about two hours as it was the first day of the campaign, and in that time 350 people signed the petition.

"What Royal Mail need to realise is it's their customers who are supporting us and they are not happy with how the business is being run."

Union leaders say Royal Mail's decision to place its Etruria site under review shows a "lack of social conscience" towards the Potteries.

Lee Barron, the CWU's regional secretary, says the firm should stay put after Government incentives helped Royal Mail set up the centre in 2002.

He said: "Because of the money they received, they were committed to keeping the centre open for 10 years.

"Royal Mail has taken a lot of jobs out of Stoke-on-Trent after closing a mail centre, distribution centre and inward sorting centre. There must be between 800 and 1,000 jobs lost over the last 10 years."

Royal Mail says it is reviewing its customer services bases across the country but says no decision has been made about the Etruria centre's future.

However, the CWU has since said workers at Etruria have been verbally informed it will close in the next 12 to 18 months.

Jim Gibson, aged 57, from Chell Heath, who is chairman of the residents' association, said: "A lot of people on this estate used to work for Royal Mail. More job losses is another nail in the coffin for this city."

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

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