Frank Field vows to fight for Birkenhead’s Land Registry staff as 60 jobs to go

Nov 4 2009 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

Frank Field vows to fight for Birkenhead’s Land Registry staff as 60 jobs to go

FRANK Field has vowed to “fight” for Birkenhead’s Land Registry staff, following the announcement that 60 jobs will go.

The Labour MP paid a visit to the organisation’s Rosebrae site on Friday, where he met staff, union representatives and local management.

Land Registry had two offices in Birkenhead until March this year, when 100 positions were cut and the Old Market building closed.

Frank Field told the News: “Obviously it’s terrible for staff who have performed, and done all that’s required of them, to lose significant numbers of jobs.

“I think it’s good Birkenhead isn’t on the closure list and I’m going to meet nationally to try and make sure we remain off that closure list.”

This latest announcement is only phase one of potential cuts in the public organisation, which has seen five offices close nationwide.

But Frank does not consider the 60 jobs a lost cause, saying he’s “going to fight for them”, while underlining the importance of Land Registry as a public service.

Dave Lunn is PCS union’s Birkenhead branch chairman.

He said: “Frank seemed quite positive and seemed on board with the campaign.

“One of the main points is about the public service that Land Registry provides and we believe would be compromised.”

PCS has not ruled out strike action over the proposals.