Union slams Trafalgar Square Crown closure

Postal

A shock decision to close a flagship Crown Post Office in the centre of London, with the loss of 24 jobs, has been roundly condemned by the CWU as “yet another example of failed leadership and managed decline.”

Reacting to the news that Trafalgar Square Post Office is set to be axed in December, Andy Furey, CWU assistant secretary, said: “Whilst this sort of attack on the Crown network is unfortunately not unusual, what is of particular concern on this occasion is the fact Trafalgar Square is one of the five biggest Crowns in terms of staff numbers.”

Garrie Bond, our CWU rep, is on-site today (Tuesday) to assist and support members who are, according to Andy, “shocked and devastated” by this development and feel let down by the Post Office.

“All Post Offices play a vital role in local communities across the UK, but successive governments have repeatedly cut the support that the Post Office Network desperately needs, while removing crucial revenue-generating activities,” Andy said, and he welcomed Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey’s commitment today to stop post office branch closures.

“We need a firm commitment by government to restore and revitalise our Crown Post Office network in our cities and sub Post Offices in towns and villages. In order to have a viable future, we also need a new Post Bank to combat financial exclusion, provide much-needed support for small businesses and to make the Post Office the destination for comprehensive banking services.

“Our vision for a Post Bank will defend and protect services to our communities and crucially the jobs of hard-working Post Office staff.”