Campaigners including, Labour councillors, Yeovil Trade Council and members of the public protested outside Yeovil Crown Post Office collecting signatures against the closure of the town’s main Post Office and distributing leaflets to raise awareness of the threat to local jobs and services. The Post Office plans to close Crown Office and relocate to WHSmith. The Communication Workers Union, which represents the staff in Yeovil Crown Post Office, ran a street stall from 11:00 am outside the Post Office on 1st December for several hours with a petition and postcards.
“Yeovil Crown Post Office , like so many Towns, is struggling in the current climate and if this Post Office was to close it would be a major blow to the local economy and to the services which many people rely on. There are hundreds of people who come to this office every day and we just don’t think the same service could be matched by a few windows in the back of another shop. This is a dedicated office with good access arrangements in a prominent town centre position.” WHSmith has consistently been voted the worst retailer on the High Street in recent years and is not a fitting home for our much valued postal services. Alongside issues with access and service standards, WHSmith operate on a low-wage and bargain basement employment standards ethos. This Town will lose highly skilled, unionised and well rewarded jobs in exchange for minimum wage paying, insecure jobs.”
Employees in Yeovil Crown Post Office are facing an uncertain future if franchising plans go ahead. Yeovil Crown post office is one of 74 Crown Post Offices announced for privatisation, causing outcry in communities across the country. An online petition has been set-up. Please sign it at: www.saveourpostoffice.co.uk To download a printable copy visit: http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/