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MP backing Archway civil servants’ jobs fight
MORE than 200 civil servants facing eviction from Archway Tower have written an open letter to the Office of the Public Guardian demanding to know why they are being forced to move.
Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn has promised to highlight their plight to Lord Chancellor Jack Straw.
Staff at the OPG, a service which offers decision-making support to people who “lack capacity” want chief executive Martin John to publish a business plan justifying a move of 500 posts out of London.
When the Tribune revealed the planned move in March, residents warned the loss would bring economic devastation to an area struggling to survive the recession.
The money-saving move, which will see staff operating from call centres Birmingham and Nottingham, is expected to take place over the next three years.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which is fighting the plan, say the project is estate driven .
The open letter has also been copied in to Mr Straw and demands that the Ministry of Justice explains the benefits of relocation to staff, the public they serve and Archway residents.
Mr Corbyn said: “The OPG does a great job by supporting people in very complicated and difficult circumstances. To close the office or make people redundant is offering them a Hobson’s Choice. We should instead look at the quality of service provided by face-to-face contact other than call centres. I support the staff and… I will be contacting Mr Straw to make sure he responds to their letter and listens to their plea.”
Nick McCarthy of the PCS said: “The Ministry of Justice would be screaming from the rooftops the benefits of such redeployment would bring for the clients of the OPG if there were any. Businesses in north Islington will go bust if jobs are relocated out of London and the south east.”
The jobs reorganisation was recommended by Sir Michael Lyons who, in a report, called for 2,000 civil servants to be moved out of London.
The union also says it is “scandalous” that the OPG has not carried out a full equality impact assessment on the most vulnerable people in the country and says most clients live in London and the South East.
A ministry spokesman said: “Quite apart from the limits on capacity in Archway Tower, the nature of OPG business is such that we can and will provide a better and more cost effective service through locating the majority of business away from London. OPG will still retain some presence in the city. Where individuals’ roles do move out of London, the OPG and the Ministry of Justice will naturally seek to reassign or redeploy staff wherever possible.”
The OPG had not received the letter so could not comment on it. |
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