LTB 010/19 - Post Office: "Save Our Post Office" - Westminster Hall Debate - Thursday 10th January: "Franchising of Crown Post Offices and the effect on High Streets and Local Communities"

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LTB 010/19 - Post Office: "Save Our Post Office" - Westminster Hall Debate - Thursday 10th January: "Franchising of Crown Post Offices and the effect on High Streets and Local Communities"

No. 010/2019

8th January 2019



Dear Colleagues

POST OFFICE – “SAVE OUR POST OFFICE” – WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATE – THURSDAY 10TH JANUARY: “FRANCHISING OF CROWN POST OFFICES AND THE EFFECT ON HIGH STREETS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES”

Further to LTB 711/18 dated 17th December. Branches are reminded a Westminster Hall debate will take place on Thursday 10th January from 1.30pm for 3 hours. The Post Office’s franchising plans will come under scrutiny and will be debated by MPs. This development is critical to the “Save Our Post Office” campaign. Consequently it is hoped the government will be held to account and strongly challenged in regard to its support for the Post Office’s franchising programme.

This debate has been initiated by Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan and it is expected that Kelly Tolhurst, BEIS minister with responsibility for Post Office, will respond on behalf of the government. All Branches that have a Crown Office currently under threat are encouraged to email the attached model letter to MPs, urging them to participate in the debate and to support our campaign.

A significant element of the debate is likely to centre on the misuse of public money to pay for the Settlement Agreements which we estimate will cost the Post Office in excess of £30m. The Post Office hasn’t refuted this number and hasn’t denied the use of taxpayers’ monies for the specific purpose of propping up WHSmith. Clearly millions of pounds of government subsidy is being used for TUPE avoidance, designed to pay off our members, thus enabling WHSmith to replace them with new employees on the minimum wage. The Post Office’s approach, supported by government, allows for exploitation of workers and dumbs down quality jobs.

Thank you for your continued support in this crucial campaign. Further developments will be reported.

Yours sincerely



Andy Furey – Assistant Secretary

Terry Pullinger – DGS(P)

Dave Ward – General Secretary

Attachment 1 to LTB010-19 – Draft letter to MPs https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-nhltddt-ztkjiuyil-i/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View Online https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-nhltddt-ztkjiuyil-d/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;