Party warned over sell-off of Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Articl ... 7?UserKey=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Labour members were urged yesterday to “prevent the looters” of the coalition government privatising the Royal Mail.

In a speech to party conference in Manchester, Communication Workers Union general secretary Billy Hayes said: “Last week at the Liberal Democrat conference, Business Secretary Vince Cable posed as a critic of the reckless excess in financial circles. In the same speech, he promised to give Royal Mail to the same gamblers, spivs and asset strippers.

“Royal Mail is not safe in the hands of the Lib Dems or the Tories. If they had their way, Royal Mail would be sold at a knockdown price to people whose sole instinct is the rate of return.”

He warned ministers would introduce a Postal Services Bill in parliament next month that would “privatise and break up” Royal Mail.

And he warned of indications that ministers could reduce the guaranteed six-day postal service to five days – as the six-day service “is not guaranteed in EU law”.

Shadow environment secretary Hilary Benn meanwhile condemned the coalition government’s proposal to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board as a “shabby little plan”. He said even Margaret Thatcher had not tried to scrap the board, which sets minimum pay levels for farm workers.

Mr Benn said: “David Cameron tells us we are all in this together. Really? If that’s so, then why are you determined to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board?

“For 70 years it has ensured a fair deal and fair pay, overtime rates, stand-by allowances, bereavement leave for farm workers. Even Mrs Thatcher did not dare do this. ‘All in this together’, Mr Cameron? No. This is a shabby little plan and we will oppose it every step of the way.”

[Wiggins79]

He warned ministers would introduce a Postal Services Bill in parliament next month that would “privatise and break up” Royal Mail.

What? Like Labour were going to do before they found no-one wanted to buy it and then got booted out at the election? Billy must have a short memory.

[Wessex]

Got a feeling that farm workers get the lowest money going and the longest hours although this may have changed with minimum wage but have the feeling they were partially exempt ?

[DirtyHarry]

The whole charade makes me sick to the pit of my stomach.

[MinisterofCucumber]