Good news on Mount Pleasant nursery.

31^st August 2011
For immediate release
Deal keeps Mount Pleasant Nursery open
The Communication Workers Union has reached a deal with Royal Mail which gives the Mount Pleasant Nursery a five-month reprieve while its long-term future is discussed.
Hopes have now risen that Mount Pleasant children’s nursery based at Royal Mail's Mount Pleasant mail centre in Farringdon – which had been earmarked for closure this November – can be saved from the axe following a breakthrough in talks at the end of last week.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward, who led the CWU negotiating team, said: “This development is excellent news for hard-working parents across London and good news for the company too.
“Obviously, there’s a long way to go to ensure the nursery’s long-term survival, but this agreement means that we’re all now working towards that aim.
“This facility is a fantastic benefit for our members and companies who show concern for their employees' welfare are more successful than those who don't."
CWU national equality officer Linda Roy also welcomed the agreement, saying: “This is a huge step forward, which will be a great relief to our members who rely on this nursery facility. As Dave says, we’ve got a lot of work to do, but now that both the union and the company are on the same side, I’m optimistic that we can save the nursery.”
Formal terms of reference for the forthcoming detailed discussions will be agreed between the union, Royal Mail and the childcare provider next month and then all parties will work towards a solution.
Childsplay Nursery had been due to close in November, but a high-profile campaign by CWU members has persuaded the company to think again and a five-month reprieve has been agreed to allow detailed discussions aimed at securing the facility’s future to proceed. The nursery provides affordable childcare matching Royal Mail shift times to workers across London.
For more information see the CWU website: www.cwu.org/save-mount-pleasant-nursery.html
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For more information please contact:
Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail: sbjones@cwu.org
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail: kslocombe@cwu.org