Union warns Royal Mail it will fight plans for privatisation

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/may/2 ... vatisation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Communications Workers Union members unanimously pass emergency motion rejecting plans by business secretary Vince Cable


Union leaders have warned the government they will fight plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail and are "battle hardened, not battle weary" after last year's strikes.

At their annual conference today, members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) unanimously passed an emergency motion rejecting plans by business secretary Vince Cable to inject private capital into the business.

Addressing the conference in Bournemouth, CWU general secretary Billy Hayes said "Privatisation means running down the service. It means that the interests of the UK public are placed below the interests of those who will only put money in so that they can take even more out. Once again, we say to the government: 'Privatisation no. Royal Mail is not for sale.'"

His words were echoed by deputy general secretary Dave Ward, who added: "If any union can rise to this challenge, this one can. We're battle hardened – but not battle weary."

Last year's Royal Mail strikes hit the company's revenues and led to a new agreement on pay and conditions.

On Wednesday the CWU conference is due to discuss a possible ballot on strike action at another major UK company, BT. The union, which represents about 50,000 of the telecoms company's 112,000 staff, has been locked in negotiations with management at BT but has been unable to reach agreement. At the weekend it emerged that chief executive Ian Livingston is to get a bonus of over £1m.

The resolution passed by conference on the part-privatisation of Royal Mail, however, stops short of calling for a repeat of last year's strikes. It specifically states: "Conference recognises that different tactics will be employed in comparison to the previous anti-privatisation campaigns."

The steps the National Executive Council is directed to take include launching a "broad-based" public campaign against the proposals while seeking "to establish early dialogue with the coalition government".

A second resolution which instructed the NEC to "use all means possible to protect jobs and services in a publicly owned Royal Mail Group including industrial action" was withdrawn.

In March CWU members voted for a three-year deal to bring in new machinery and working practices but secure jobs, following a series of strikes in October that hit Royal Mail's revenues, down last year for the first time in a decade.

Royal Mail announced last week that revenues in the year were £9.4bn, down from £9.6bn a year ago. Operating profits, however, increased by £83m last year to £404m, after a raft of cost-cutting measures.

Royal Mail, which in April lost its chief executive Adam Crozier to ITV, is facing fierce competition from electronic communications and a host of rival operators. Last year it delivered 13m fewer letters a day than it did in 2005.

The CWU conference also discussed the Labour leadership contest today, voting to only support a candidate who is supportive of CWU policies and trade union rights. CWU will also hold leadership hustings events for the candidates and believes that all of them – including Diane Abbott and John McDonnell – should get to stand to ensure the widest possible debate. The decision on which candidate the CWU will recommend will be taken by the NEC once the nominations have closed.

[Big Daz]

"A second resolution which instructed the NEC to "use all means possible to protect jobs and services in a publicly owned Royal Mail Group including industrial action" was withdrawn."

[demon]

no point saying we will strike dont f***ing think so s**t union