POST OFFICE PROTESTERS URGE STORE BOYCOTT
Submitted on Mon, 06/11/2007 - 3:10am
More than 150 people have signed a petition pledging to boycott WHSmith over plans to relocate Leicester's flagship post office.
Their signatures were collected in a few hours on Saturday during a protest outside the post office in Bishop Street.
The protest was organised by the Industrial Workers of the World union (IWW), which is campaigning against the branch's relocation to the basement of WHSmith, in Gallowtree Gate.
Stuart Price, from IWW, said the union felt a boycott would be the most effective way of letting bosses at Royal Mail and WHSmith know how strongly people opposed the move.
He said response to the petition had been "very positive".
Leicester's main post office is one of 76 branches nationwide that are to be relocated to WHSmith stores.
The Gallowtree Gate branch has started recruiting staff for the post office, and building work is under way.
Sandra Cutland, 40, from Braunstone, said: "They should keep it where it is."
John McKiernan, 44, of Knighton, Leicester, signed the pledge along with his mother, Iris.
He said: "Hopefully, with people signing this pledge and sticking by it, WHSmith will have to listen to what people are saying."
A spokeswoman for WHSmith said people had the chance to raise concerns about access during the consultation period on the relocation.
She said: "We would be extremely disappointed if they felt boycotting WHSmith would be the best way of saving the post office and keeping it where it is."
Customers wanting to comment on the proposed changes should write to: Philippa Wright, National Consultation Manager, Post Office Limited, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford WD18 8ZW.
The closing date for comments is June 20.
Sign the boycott petition here.
Watch a video of the Leics IWW interview at post office.