Barrow DQ - Good news!

No. 036/10 Ref: SB/kc/ Date: 12 January 2011

To All Branches with BT Members

Dear Colleague
CWU Campaign BT Jobs for Barrow – BT ANNOUNCE INVESTMENT IN BARROW!
BT has announced today that they have agreed to make sufficient investment into the infrastructure at Barrow in order that a total solution for off-line work can be brought to the site to replace the current DQ work.
  This will be sustainable long term work for all employees at Barrow and will mean that redeployee status will not apply at the end of this month. It is anticipated that until the infrastructure can be uplifted the advisors will continue to handle the DQ work until the 31 March 2011.
This decision has come less than 3 weeks before closure date and I am sure you will agree it is fantastic good news for our members working in Barrow.
This news has come following a successful campaign which started in August when BT served 6 months notice to close the DQ site and trying to persuade BT to bring alternative jobs to this remote area of Barrow. The campaign included a rally which took place outside the telephone exchange in Barrow on the 15 December and involved the affected members, CWU branches and prominent members of the community, including the MP John Woodcock.
The CWU is absolutely delighted that BT has reconsidered their plans and has decided to invest in the site that will now make it a viable unit. This is the best possible outcome for our members and the community of Barrow.
Any queries should be addressed to Sally Bridge, Assistant Secretary at sabridge@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely

Sally Bridge
Assistant Secretary