Picture Round Up of Trade Union Events Last Week

Unison and Unite members at Leeds University held a lobby of the University council on Thursday 29th November against proposals to attack their pensions

Leeds and York Unison Community Health branch held a well attended meeting chaired by Leeds TUC President Sheila Banks on Thursday 29 November against the governments cuts to the NHS.

PCS DVLA members in Leeds joined a national strike on Friday 30 November against plans to close all 39 local DVLA offices in the country as well as other attacks on the Department for Transport.

GMB members at the Leeds Remploy factory, and their supporters, held a mock funeral on Friday 30th November to mark the closing of their factory.

West Yorkshire FBU handed in over 10,000 signatures on Friday 30 November against plans to cut the fire service, including 11 less fire stations, 19 less fire engines and around 360 less fire-fighters jobs.

Tell the West Yorkshire Fire Service you oppose cuts before 30 November 2012

The West Yorkshire Fire Service consultation on cuts to our first service ends on 30 November 2012.

You can read the official consultation document HERE:

and you can read the view of the Fire Brigades Union on the proposed cuts HERE:

You can also see some extremely good arguments against the proposed cuts at: http://firecutscostlives.blogspot.co.uk

Please let the West Yorkshire Fire Service know your views by either sending a letter to:


Hannah Stoneman
Consultation Coordinator
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters
Oakroyd Hall, Bradford Road, Birkenshaw
West Yorkshire
BD11 2DY


or e-mailing: consultation@westyorksfire.gov.uk

Stop the cuts to your West Yorkshire Fire Service

The West Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has called for a mass march and rally to protest against the cuts to Fire Stations and staff in West Yorkshire.

On Saturday 03 November 2012 The March will start at 12:30 outside the Art Gallery on the Headrow in Leeds and march around the city centre followed by a Rally with speakers including Matt Wrack the general secretary of the FBU.

Please attend to show your opposition to the decimation of your fire service.

Leeds TUC Public Meeting for A Future That Works

Please attend the Leeds TUC Public Meeting for A Future That Works.

Mark Serwotka - General Secretary of the Public and Comercial Services (PCS) Union will be speaker plus many more.

The meeting is on Wednesday 19 September 2012 at 6pm.

Please attend and book your coach for the March for a future that works in London on Saturday 20 October 2012.

To get your ticket call 07904 045320 or e-mail: secretary@Leeds-tuc.org.uk.

Tickets are £10 waged or £1 unwaged.

Local councillors and union launch campaign against Royal Mail office closure

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) and ALL councillors in the WF15/16 postcode area have launched a campaign against the closure of the Heckmondwike Delivery Office by Royal Mail.

Heckmondwike DO office has served the local community in the Heckmondwike & Liversedge postcode for many years. Residents can use the office to pick up parcels, redirect or hold mail, and access other services. 

  

However in March 2012, Royal Mail announced plans to close the Heckmondwike Delivery Office by August 2012 and move operations to Batley Delivery Office on Grange Road, Batley.

  

The closure has been announced without consulting the Community and its elected councillors or MPs, or the workers and their union (CWU). Local Councillors and the CWU are calling on Royal Mail to keep the office open. 

For residents of Heckmondwike and Liversedge collecting parcels will mean the journey to Grange Road in Batley which at present has no bus service to it.

For businesses it could mean a disruption in service.

It will severely hamper our elderley and disabled People being able to collect Items- batley is not on a Bus Route.

"Councillor Statements"

Royal Mail Delivery Staff are not happy either, since most have worked at the office for nearly a decade and live locally. While receiving travel allowances for three years, ultimately they will have to pay more and travel longer to get to work.

Several are worried they may struggle to pick up their children from school if the move means later start times and longer travelling times. While Royal Mail has stated that nobody will lose their job, some workers may not have a place at Batley Delivery Office and are unsure where in the Wakefield area they may end up working.

  

Local CWU branch secretary Andy Lee explained: “In my opinion closing Heckmondwike Delivery Office would effect the quality of service offered to local residents and businesses and would be an unnecessary disruption to our member's current working life. I

There is no rationale behind Royal Mail’s announcement other than the money they will gain by selling the site".

  

The CWU Leeds No.1 Amalgamated Branch and Local Councillors have launched a campaign to keep the office open, in order to keep on serving the community. They are campaigning on the internet and in the local area with a petition's and leaflets. 

For businesses and residents please contact:

Andy Lee

Central Secretary

Leeds No.1 Amalgamated Branch

Communication Workers Union

Suite 6e

Josephs Well

Hanover Walk

Leeds

LS3 1AB

Tel: 0113 2341312 (Office)

       07958760045  (Mobile)

Fax: 0113 2341307

Email: andylee@cwuleeds.freeserve.co.uk