Royal Mail faces death sentence

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/inde ... full/91469" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Con-Dem government has been urged not to pass a death sentence on the Royal Mail by flogging it off to the highest bidder.

Postal union CWU accused Liberal Democrat Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey of going against his own party's policy by suggesting that an option for the Royal Mail would be to float it on the London Stock Exchange to raise £9 billion for the company.

In his first interview since taking office Mr Davey also called for an end to big payouts to Royal Mail executives and warned that "the pensions of past employees, current employees and their families would be at risk" if action was not taken.

Mr Davey said: "The truth is that Royal Mail's situation, if nothing is done, will become increasingly dire.

"If we don't transform Royal Mail it will be dragged down by a lethal combination of falling mail volumes, low investment and potentially one of the worst pension crises for employees in British history."

However the Post Office, which runs Britain's 12,000 branches, would remain in public hands under his plans.

But the union has argued that privatising a national treasure like the Royal Mail is more Thatcherite than Lib Dem and would be against the interests of customers and deeply unpopular with the public.

CWU general secretary Billy Hayes said: "This is clearly a major retreat from Lib Dem policy. Mr Davey and Business Secretary Vince Cable have given in to Chancellor George Osborne's Thatcherite economics.

"The proposals to split the post office network from the Royal Mail as outlined by Mr Davey will threaten the viability of the network, will wreck the service and will wreck rural and deprived communities which rely on the Post Office.

"We all know that privatisation leads to higher prices as private companies maximise their own profit ahead of any sense of public service. We're saying to the government: 'Don't privatise this successful public company'."

The union will also be seeking assurances from both Royal Mail and the government on a resolution to pension issues.

CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "We welcome Mr Davey's comments about restricting executive pay, but that can only happen if Royal Mail remains public.

"Royal Mail is being successfully transformed in the public sector and this will continue to gather pace as new machinery and the business transformation plan is fully rolled out.

"In addition, industrial relations are transforming from confrontation to co-operation and we are looking forward to working with the newly appointed chief executive Moya Greene - someone with significant experience in the industry."

He said that, far from being a drain on the public purse, the Royal Mail is a profitable asset making over £400 million last year - a jump of 26 per cent.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail declined to comment.

[pinstripe]

"A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail declined to comment."

Not much of a spokeswoman then.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

"A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail declined to comment."

Not much of a spokeswoman then.

No but you can tell a lot from the fact they declined - We dont like lefties working for us, we certainly are not going to comment on a story that is in a left wing paper.

They probably vet them before they comment anyway, and then wont unless it belongs to one of the Fleet Street Majors or Sky. Or am I just being cynical

[belle smith]

CWU general secretary Billy Hayes said: "This is clearly a major retreat from Lib Dem policy. Mr Davey and Business Secretary Vince Cable have given in to Chancellor George Osborne's Thatcherite economics.

I'm sorry i thought that Billy was in full scale retreat from being a trade unioist, well certainly were his members terms and conditions are concerned.

The union will also be seeking assurances from both Royal Mail and the government on a resolution to pension issues.

Still stringing you's along with that one guys. Maybe Lionel Sampson and Phil Browne could do their f***ing job!

CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "We welcome Mr Davey's comments about restricting executive pay, but that can only happen if Royal Mail remains public.

"Royal Mail is being successfully transformed in the public sector and this will continue to gather pace as new machinery and the business transformation plan is fully rolled out.

"In addition, industrial relations are transforming from confrontation to co-operation and we are looking forward to working with the newly appointed chief executive Moya Greene - someone with significant experience in the industry."

Yes yes Dave you've done your bit and screwed over your members, nice bit of PR work for RM too.
CWU national officers......worse than strike breakers!