Save Newport Passport Office

Unite to stop the Con Dem government cuts

Shock at the announcement of the closure of the Newport Passport Office has turned to anger. 300 workers providing a vital service will lose their jobs in an area of already high unemployment. Wales will lose its only Passport Office. The initial mood of the workers changed to determination to fight the closure and they have received support from across PCS and the trade union movement. The public have been appalled at the decision which would have a detri-mental impact on Newport with the loss of 300 jobs.

Coming hot on the heels of the Ryder Cup, which we were promised would bring huge benefits to Newport, it’s a kick in the teeth to communities that have still not recovered from the closures of Llanwern steel works and other work-places. Already Newport is the third worst town or city centre in the UK for empty floor space.
 

With the Comprehensive Spending Review announcement approaching on the 20th October, It is vital to give a strong, industrial response to this announcement and a clear message to the ConDem Government that we will not accept cuts.We cannot let Identity and Passport Service (IPS) management get away with this attack on jobs and services.
 

The Government's cuts are not inevitable or necessary. PCS has put forward a clear alternative to the cuts including fully resourcing the HMRC to collect the unpaid and evaded tax and to close the tax loopholes which would stop tax avoidance. A colossal £123 billion a year is wasted by not doing this - two thirds of the budget deficit. So we are fighting for investment in jobs and services which our communities need.
Support for the PCS members in the Identity and Passport Service is pouring in.
It was absolutely correct for PCS to inform its members of the intention of the management to close the office despite Conservative Secretary of State for Wales Gillan’s attack on PCS.
 

Now is the time for workers to support any action that Newport Passport Office workers take to defend vital jobs in our community.
 

National Shop Stewards Network calls for:

• A united campaign to save Newport Pass-port Office from closure

• Maximum unity of the trade union move-ment in defence of the public sector and the welfare state

• For the TUC to call a united national dem-onstration with a view to further organis-ing a one-day public sector strike, as the beginning of a serious fightback against these vicious cuts.

• Support the Wales demonstration against the cuts in Cardiff on October 23rd

• Make the fat cats pay for the crisis they created—collect the £123 billion unpaid tax and take over the banks