KEEP THE POST PUBLIC - media and public campaign

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 440/2009


Date: 19 May 2009

TO ALL BRANCHES

Dear Colleagues

KEEP THE POST PUBLIC - media and public campaign

Media campaign

Branches and members will have seen the high profile media campaign that has maintained its level now for a lengthy period. Over recent weeks, many political commentators have written articles demanding the end of the plan to privatise the Royal Mail.

For the last two weeks it has been difficult to read an article in any newspaper that has discussed political issues without having Royal Mail described as a political football.

These articles have included heavy political commentators, including most recently, last Sunday's Observer calling for the Compass proposals to be implemented, and "social commentators". The latter has included a leading article from Eamonn Holmes in his Sunday column, demanding the privatisation proposal is halted. When commentators like Eamonn Holmes wade into the debate, you know you have captured the popular ground.

This last comment can also be borne out by the ongoing polling results. The Sunday Times is currently running an online poll that demonstrates 91.3% of public opposition. You can add your vote at http://timesbusiness.typepad.com/money_ ... -mail.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The union has commissioned some polling on the subject as part of a wider political ICM poll. These results are completed and our elements of the poll are attached. Also attached is our press release around the poll that is embargoed until midnight tonight, to allow for its release on the same day as the Lords debate, tomorrow. Any local press releases on this issue must set the same embargo.

We are commissioning this week the individual constituency based polls as agreed regionally. These should be available very soon for regions and branches to use in the local media.

We will be commissioning a further national poll, in the 20 key marginal constituencies.

Given the huge media debate and the nature of the polls, there is no doubt that our campaign has placed the privatisation and modernisation of Royal Mail front and centre of the political focus. There is no doubt that the developing furore of MPs expenses impact on the media coverage but we are still "punching well above our weight" in column inches.

Online campaign

Our modern online campaign, in conjunction with Bluestatedigital has been a huge success. We have developed around 50 000 signed up supporters who are carrying out various actions in support of our campaign. Most recently, this has included writing direct to TNT to ask them to resist buying into Royal Mail. The success of this venture has been shown publicly by shareholder comments relayed in the press recently. This ever growing list of members and supporters who are actively campaigning online gives us great flexibility for future last minute contact with MPs as we reach the commons debate and vote.

Keep the public posted tour

Our tour of the country to more directly engage the public has been a huge success to date with Scotland and Northern Ireland completed. The tour is currently in the North West, passing to the North East next week. As the tour passes along the UK, our petition and support lists are growing. The publicity of the tour is being aided with local media publicity and a billboard campaign.

The billboards targeted have an audience reach of 32.5 million people.

Copies of billboard images being used at link http://www.cwu.org/assets/_files/docume ... LTB440.doc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yours sincerely
Kevin Slocombe
Head of Communications

[BELIAL]

I note they stopped their online poll when it got to 91.5% of respondents opposing privatization