CWU Statement on Crown Office closures

Responding to announcement of the franchising of the remaining 108 Crown Post Offices today, CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said “The Horizon Scandal and the damage it did to thousands of individuals and the reputation of the Post Office should have been a wake up moment for the whole company. It should have delivered a complete shift in approach, ethos and engagement with frontline workers.

The news today that the Post Office will push ahead with the closure of 108 Crown Offices with a loss of 1,000 jobs shows they have learned absolutely nothing from the scandal.

The Post Office’s claim that these community services will be maintained by their failed franchising model is laughable to anyone who has seen their local Post Office services reduced to the back of a shop. The sell-off of WHSmith last week shows just how fragile and ill thought out this model is. This is the full privatisation of the Post Office via the back door.

The role of the government must also be examined. This is a continuation of the hands off role played by the Tories. We call on Labour to immediately intervene and examine alternative options. Now more than ever, we need to seriously look at creating a joint venture between Royal Mail and the Post Office – two businesses that should never have been separated.

This is a major test for this government ahead of introduction of the employment rights bill. It is inevitable that the news today will lead to further scrutiny of our relationship with the Labour Party. Our members and Branches will see this as a crucial moment ahead that will truly test the link between Labour and the trade unions who created the Party.”

ENDS

CWU National Officer Andy Furey is available for interview by contacting pressofficer@cwu.org