DWP told to 'think again' over plans to send Nuneaton staff to Coventry

[dutchman]

Nuneaton's MP Marcus Jones has made the appeal



The Department for Work and Pensions has been told to 'think again' over plans to send Nuneaton staff to Coventry. Nuneaton's MP Marcus Jones has made the plea after being contacted by those impacted by the proposals.

As we reported in our newsletter, employees at the centre in DWP in Discovery House in Barling Way were last week told that their centre is closing - and that they have to move to a centre in Coventry.

The Nuneaton centre is one of 30 DWP sites closing, with alternative sites being offered to staff. There are also others closing across the country with no other option for employees.

Concerned Nuneaton staff, who face extra travel expense to get to the Coventry Cofa Court in the city centre to work, have contacted the town's voice in Parliament. As a result, he has raised concerns about the plans - and urged them to think again.

"I am very disappointed to learn of the proposed closure of Nuneaton Discovery House and have urged the Department of Work and Pensions to think again," he said.

"The planned closure is causing great concern amongst the Nuneaton-based staff and their proposed move to Coventry will lead to inconvenience, increased travel costs and parking charges for staff.

"If the Department is determined to press ahead with this relocation, I have urged it to make every effort to mitigate the effect on staff. The plan to relocate staff and service to Coventry Cofa Court by October 2022 has been announced at short notice and I have asked the Department to urgently look at how it can help staff with reassurance, travel and parking costs and home working where achievable.

"DWP has given assurances on support for staff but I now want it to either reconsider this concerning relocation or make speedy announcements to reassure staff that their costs will not significantly rise."

When the plans were announced last week, a government spokesman said: “As part of plans to improve the services we deliver to claimants, help more people into employment and modernise public services, DWP is moving some back office staff to better, greener offices, which will not affect any public-facing roles. This is not a plan to reduce our headcount – where possible, our colleagues in offices due to close are being offered opportunities to be redeployed to a nearby site, or retrained into a new role in DWP or another government department.

"We are making every effort to fully support our staff through this process."

[rebbonk]

I'm afraid I have little sympathy. Throughout my working life, employers have closed plants and I've had a simple choice, move or find another job.

What's so special about these people? Coventry is hardly at the other end of the country.