Swiss Cottage and East Finchley Post Offices plan strike day after bank holiday
Signatures are collected on a petition outside Swiss Cottage Post Office during a strike in April - Credit: Archant
Staff at Swiss Cottage and East Finchley post offices have chosen one of the busiest days of the year after May Bank Holiday weekend to go on strike, as they fight the moves to franchise branches.
Earlier this week the Post Office officially announced its search to find retail partners to operate 70 of its crown branches, including Swiss Cottage post office, in Harben Parade, and East Finchley post office, in Viceroy Parade.
The partnership will see post offices moved into supermarkets, shops or newsagents and staff cuts.
The Communication Worker’s Union, which represents postal workers, has taken three half days of strike action in the last month to show their opposition to the plans.
A full day of strike action is now planned for next Tuesday (May 7).
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Gary Watt, the union area representative for north London, said: “We chose that date strategically because the day after a bank holiday is always extra busy with two days worth of work, and we want to let the Post Office know that we are serious about this.
“The strike is about pay, job security and public services.
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“If the offices are franchised, they won’t be in the same buildings or even in the high streets, they will be smaller and they won’t have the same staff.
“Also franchises don’t do the full range of services, like passports and ID checking.”
On the day of the next strike, union members plan to set up tables outside the post office with petitions and information for the public about the franchise plans.
