who will be our employer?

[raikky]

i dont get what an IPO means for us. who will own us. who will decide to put us on the street etc. new management? will moya greene finally piss off and wreck another postal system?

[silly suffolk]

we haven't lost yet. man the barricades.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

An IPO means that initially or at least in the short term there will be no change in who is in charge, but there would probably be a change in focus. It could be argued that the balance of Service Provision to profit generation would be changed and the signs of that are already appearing.

In an IPO it would depend on what contract Moya could come up with initially as to whether she would stay on or not. However if shares are issued then a report must be made to shareholders and any change in her pay and conditions would have to be passed by them.

The biggest problem with an IPO is that over time Hedge Funds, Pensions and Big City firms tend to buy up the shares from the ordinary people, they will in most cases once they have a majority holding change the management team, the culture and the workforce. The biggest change for us as a workforce will be less long term staff (30 years in one job is relatively rare in most businesses), more pressure on our terms and conditions including pay. Also the Union would be under extreme pressure as I doubt that they'll get the same level of Full Time Release and no doubt there will be more and bigger moves to circumvent and sideline the union.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

we haven't lost yet. man the barricades.

Tomatoes and cabbages on standby and rotting nicely.

[raikky]

yeah we havnt lost yet. but its obvious cameron is gonna bulldoze this in regardless. hes ruthless and doesnt care for anyone. but, im hopeful, that it will remain in public ownership

[UnhappyGremlin]

I personally think that the Government and RM are trying to present privatisation as a foregone conclusion so there will be no fight to stop it.
But, even if it is inevitable, and I think it may be, it doesn't matter. I would rather fight and lose than cower, run and give in to the bastards.
It may also help with any further fights we have against them with regards of pay, conditions etc. If they know we're willing to fight, they may think twice about some of their intentions or actions.

[watt tyler]

I would call upon every working man in Britain to shake off that supineness and indifference to their interest . arise men of Britain and take your stand. rally round the standard of liberty, or forever lie prostrate under the iron hand of your land and money mongering taskmasters. Milton I think.

[borders]

spot on , " when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty " - Thomas Jefferson

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I would call upon every working man in Britain to shake off that supineness and indifference to their interest . arise men of Britain and take your stand. rally round the standard of liberty, or forever lie prostrate under the iron hand of your land and money mongering taskmasters. Milton I think.

George Loveless, the leader of the rural workers who became the Tolpuddle Martyrs

[borders]

just a note , anybody who likes a good day out with like-minded people , politics , music and beer should go visit the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival July !9th- 21st. see you there !!