James Cunningham

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Jim Cunningham hosts talks with Government

Jim Cunningham MP (Coventry South) organised a meeting between Union Officials and the Government to discuss the future of Bishop Street Sorting Office and Hertford Street Post Office.

Mr Cunningham is working along side members of the Communication Workers Union to stop the Royal Mail moving the sorting office to Northampton.

Mr Cunningham says “I am deeply concerned over the potential job losses that would occur if both post offices are closed and the poorer quality of service for the people of Coventry would get as a result.

“I am also concerned about the bigger carbon footprint that would be caused because the entire city’s post will be driven to Northampton and back to the city”.

The Communication Workers Union presented Mr Cunningham with two petitions with around 25,000 signatures calling for a halt to the plans to remove the sorting office from the city and also to stop the closure of Hertford Street Post Office.

Mr Cunningham invited the West Midlands Regional Minister Liam Byrne to attend the presentation and meet with the union officials to discuss the harmful effect it would have in the city and the rest of the region.

Mr Cunningham then took union officials to meet with Pat McFadden, Minister in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to talk directly with the Government on the issue.

Mr Cunningham Said “I think the meeting was a small step in the right direction.

“The Government have listened to the concerns of the union officials and the 25,000 who signed the petitions.

“Mr McFadden promised to raise these issues with the Royal Mail”.

The Minister was more sympathetic to the cause this time around and was interested to know whether Coventry City Council had proposed an alternative site for the sorting office.

Jim Cunningham said “So far Royal Mail has been reluctant to consider alternative proposals and I hope that the Government to encourage them to do so.