Brydon Must Be Committed To Public Service

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28 January 2009 by Mark White - © Hellmail.co.uk

The Communication Workers Union made it clear today that it was determined to see Royal Mail remain in public ownership after the announcement today that Donald Brydon is to replace Allan Leighton as chairman of Royal Mail. The CWU raised some concerns that Brydon had a wholly commercial background rather public sector experience.

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the CWU said:

"The Hooper Report said that expertise in network transformation and modern postal systems is essential to the success of Royal Mail. This post has instead been given to a man with excellent private sector and private finance credentials, with no network or public sector experience."

Both Billy Hayes and deputy Dave Ward, recently put their case to the Business and Enterprise Committee, saying that Royal Mail could deliver a tailored service for business, and still remain in public ownership rather than a sizeable stake sold to an outside investor.

The union said it accepted that job losses would come with modernisation but rejected the findings of the Hooper report that suggested that part-privatisation was the only way forward for Royal Mail.

“We hope Mr Brydon will be able to adapt to a public service with a unionised workforce, a trusted brand and a great deal of affection from the general public. There are high expectations on this company role to deliver a modern and successful publicly-owned Royal Mail.” said Hayes.

Dave Ward, who raised concerns to the Business and Enterprise Committee that the rapid change of RM board members made it difficult for the union to maintain stable comminications with the company, said:

“We want a Chair who is committed to the delivery of successful public services. We expect the new Chair to be committed Royal Mail and be in for the long-haul. There has been too much turnover of senior management at the company and this undoubtedly affects the operations of company.”

The CWU and Lord Mandelson remain at loggerheads over the governments plan to sell a 'minority stake' in Royal Mail to an operator with experience of transforming a postal service. Mandelson refutes suggestions that it is privatisation and that the government is committed to keeping Royal Mail a public service. The CWU has in more recent months threatened to cease funding of the Labour party if the government tried to privatise Royal Mail. The unions view is shared by over 100 Labour MPs which could scupper Mandelson's plan altogether unless backbenchers decide to tow the part line.