Union boss warns of possible postal strikes in Plymouth

[plymouthgreen]

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A TOP union boss has warned of possible postal strikes in Plymouth if the Government proceeds with selling off part of Royal Mail.
Billy Hayes, the Communications Workers Union's general secretary, visited Plymouth earlier today, Sunday, to meet worried Royal Mail workers.

During the meeting, which was attended by around 310 city postal workers, he talked of plans for a major campaign against privatisation.

He also described any proposal to privatise Royal Mail as being "nonsense".

Mr Hayes said Labour should stick to its manifesto commitment of keeping the service wholly publicly owned rather than allowing a private firm to take a stake.

"Postal workers in Plymouth have a right to be concerned about their jobs and the future of the industry," he said.

"This is the first step here today. We will be launching a campaign and we will be lobbying the MPs.

"Everyone is very angry about what this means for Plymouth and the South West.

"They want to maintain their service to their customers. Privatising the Royal Mail would be complete nonsense.

"We will be looking to campaign in Parliament when the time comes.

"The prospect of the mail sorting centres closing could lead to strikes."

His comments came just days after Royal Mail announced increased profits of £255million in the nine months up to Christmas.
The group also announced that all its businesses are in profit for the first time in almost 20 years.

Tony Bouch, secretary of the Plymouth and East Cornwall branch of the CWU, who is based at the Plymouth Mail Centre at Plymstock, said: "The worrying thing for us is that we have seen what privatisation has done to other industries in the UK.

"We fear any move to privatise Royal Mail would rip the postal industry apart."

Mr Bouch said he fears there could be a 50 per cent reduction in the number of mail centres in the UK.

At present there are 71 mail centres including one in Plymouth, one in Truro and one in Exeter which cover the South West region.
The CWU has 500 to 600 members working at Plymouth's mail centre in Breakwater Road.

In total there are 2,000 members in the South West region.

A Plymouth postman and CWU member – who did not wish to be named – said there is a feeling of dread among workers in Plymouth.

The 42-year-old married father from Plymstock, who has worked for Royal Mail for 24 years, said: "We feel like we are being attacked. We have felt unstable for years but it is much worse now given the current climate.

"Saying that though, we are finding it hard to believe how Royal Mail is considering this even after announcing increased profits."

[Geezer]

READ THE COMMENTS ON THIS PAGE AND JUST SEE WHAT A BUNCH OF MEDIA SLAVES AND DEFEATISTS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE TURNED INTO. UNREAL!
It seems those of us with any backbone,who believe in standing up for themselves are slowly becoming the minority.

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[johnnyp]

Thanks for that Geezer
Please remember guys when posting news stories put the link in as well Cheers