LTB 063/17 - POST OFFICE: NATIONAL BRIEFING – RE-LAUNCHING OUR CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE POST OFFICE – MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2017

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LTB 063/17 - POST OFFICE: NATIONAL BRIEFING – RE-LAUNCHING OUR CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE POST OFFICE – MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2017

No. 063/2017

31st January 2017



POST OFFICE: NATIONAL BRIEFING – RE-LAUNCHING OUR CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT THE POST OFFICE – MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2017



Dear Colleagues

We will be holding a further National Briefing of Representatives to launch a reinvigorated campaign in respect of the future of the Post Office. Dave Ward, General Secretary and Terry Pullinger, Deputy General Secretary (Postal) will be addressing this vitally important briefing to elaborate on the industrial and political strands of this dispute.

Branches and Representatives will be provided with an update on the current situation in regards to the following:

New vision for the Future of the Post Office
Pensions
Crown Office Network (franchising)
Major Challenges Facing Supply Chain
Pay 2017
Establishing a Postbank
The details of the Representatives’ Briefing are as follows:

Monday 13th February: 12.00 – 3.00pm

Indian YMCA

41 Fitzroy Square

London

W1T 6AQ

The Following Representatives are invited to attend:

Branch Secretaries (with Post Office members)
Regional Secretaries
1 Divisional Representative per Division
Post Office Territorial Reps
Post Office Supply Chain Sector Reps (including Deputy Area Reps)
Post Office Sector Reps (including Deputy Area Reps)
Post Office Regional Health & Safety Reps
CViT/Cash Centre Unit Reps (if the Unit Rep is not available, the Deputy Rep is invited)
Crown Office Franchising – Community Campaigning

LTB 019/17 provided Branches with details of the 37 Crown Offices earmarked for privatisation under “Tranche 3” of the Post Office’s latest franchise programme. There are now 67 Crowns in total which are currently not linked to any local partner and we have a good chance of saving many of these Crowns by running powerful local community campaigns. Branches and Representatives are key to this activity and local campaigns should be instigated in all cases as soon as possible. Regional Secretaries are also urged to work with Branches and the IR Reps in this regard and should undertake the activities including the following:

Write to the local MP/MSP/AM/MLA, politicians (local councillors) and the media to highlight the serious concerns over the closure of the Crown Office and the impact on the community.
Organise and hold a public meeting in a suitable location. Invite the local MP, key interested groups including residents associations, local business groups, the WI, the National Pensioners Convention and also invite the Post Office.
Hold events including running stalls for leaflet distribution and the signing of local petitions.
The attached document (dated 20th December 2016), which is the CWU response to the government’s consultation on the Post Office Network, is provided to assist Branches with the background information required for local campaigning.

Branches are reminded that the C&CH department holds campaign material including posters, leaflets, model letters and motions etc which can easily be tailored for local use. This is available on request by emailing Lea Sheridan - lsheridan@cwu.org. Also if you require the assistance of a Postal Executive member in terms of speaking at a public meeting, please also send requests via email to Lea.

Further developments will be reported.



Yours sincerely





Andy Furey Terry Pullinger Dave Ward

Assistant Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal) General Secretary