'Royal Mail must remain public'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Communication Workers Union (CWU) president Jane Loftus has called for resolute resistance to the Con-Dem government's plans to privatise Royal Mail.

Opening the union's conference in Bournemouth, she said: "This union has fought privatisation under both Labour and Tory governments and we will fight again now.

"We'll fight to keep Royal Mail in the public sector," she vowed to loud applause.

Two strongly worded emergency motions will be presented to conference this morning in which the union reaffirms its "total opposition" to any sell-off of Royal Mail businesses.

"We commit ourselves to a campaign to defeat the coalition government's proposals," one motion reads.

Ms Loftus lauded members from across the country for the successful fight during last year's postal workers' dispute which brought Royal Mail back from the brink of privatisation and secured better pay and conditions.

"And that same support will be shown by the whole union for our BT members if they go into dispute over pay," she pledged.

CWU members working for the telecoms giant are edging closer towards what could be their first industrial action for 20 years after they rejected BT's below-inflation pay offer of just 2 per cent.

Branch meetings have been held around the country over the issue and delegates will discuss a motion later this week which could give the go-ahead to ballot members for action.

The union argues that its 5 per cent pay claim is "wholly affordable" and justified considering rising inflation.

Despite the recent general election ushering in a Tory Prime Minister, Ms Loftus hailed the victory against the racist BNP in east London and paid tribute to CWU members and others who campaigned tirelessly to "keep our communities fascist-free."

The five-day conference is inundated with emergency motions due to the fast-moving political landscape in Britain.

As well as debates around Royal Mail privatisation plans, delegates will discuss the Labour leadership contest and the increasing attacks on trade unions' right to take strike action in light of recent High Court judgements against Unite and RMT.

Last week, Unite won its Court of Appeal case against British Airways' attempts to stop its cabin crew going on strike, but RMT members were not so lucky.

[DirtyHarry]

I know it's not meant to be intentionally funny, but that bit where Loftus praised us for our support during last year's strikes, which apparently "Won us better pay & conditions", was the best bit of comedic writing I've read in years, I fairly pissed meself laughing.
Jane Loftus for court jester, I say.

[ardspostie]

below inflation pay rise of just 2% are we in a different union we had to go on strike to get that in one hand and taken off us plus more in the other hand what a joke

[Edward Hunter]

What the hell "has fighting the BNP" got to do with anything. At least they support keeping Royal Mail public, which is what i would like to see my subs used for. The political agenda of the union really annoys me. Concentrate on your members who pay your wages