Battle To Save Postal Jobs (From Crewe Guardian)

Battle To Save Postal Jobs

8:55am Friday 3rd July 2009

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THE fight to rescue Crewe's Royal Mail sorting office in Crewe is still alive after the compnay was saved from privatisation, say campaigners.

Lord Mandelson confirmed this week in the House of Lords that there is 'no prospect' of the Government continuing with its Postal Services Bill.

Royal Mail bosses want to close the Weston Road sorting office in Crewe, which would mean the loss of hundreds of jobs.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson said: "I have repeatedly asked the Government to take a step back from these rushed and inappropriate plans for Royal Mail that did not take into proper account the future of Crewe's sorting office, its workforce and their families.

"They have done just that, however unwillingly.

"But this is not the end. The Government and its representatives have done nothing locally or nationally for our sorting office."

David Williams, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, said: "I backed the CWU campaign right from the very beginning and I congratulate the union for putting up a superb fight.

"This has always been a matter of principle for me, I voted for a wholly publically owned Post Office at Labour’s policy forum and I expect a Labour Government to stick to the party’s policy.

"I regard this as a good result for party democracy.

“In my conversations on doorsteps many people in Crewe and Nantwich agreed with me that selling Royal Mail is not the right way forward.

“This is very welcome news, but it still leaves the future of Crewe sorting office up in the air.

"I have spoken to the CWU and they are now looking to establish proper negotiations on the modernisation programme.

“Royal Mail’s approach of picking off sorting offices one-by-one is totally wrong.

"The union should be allowed to look at the issue on a UK-wide basis.

"It is the only hope to keep Crewe open. I have written to the postal services Minister, Lord Young, asking him force management to the table."

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