Halton MP Derek Twigg joins CWU protest against RM sell-off

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Halton MP Derek Twigg joins CWU protest against Royal Mail sell-off

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HALTON’S MP and council leader have joined forces with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to campaign against the privatisation of the Royal Mail.
Earlier this month, business Secretary Vince Cable confirmed that the Government intends to ‘sell-off’ Royal Mail through a flotation on the London Stock Exchange.

But critics say that a sell-off will put the profitability of the postal service in jeopardy and will result in more Post Office closures and price increases.
On Friday, Labour MP Derek Twigg and council leader Rob Polhill joined around 20 Royal Mail staff and union members in a demonstration outside the Municipal Building on Kingsway, in Widnes.

Mr Twigg encouraged constituents to write to him with their concerns so that he could raise the issue in Parliament, while Cllr Polhill branded the proposals ‘daylight robbery’.

On Saturday, the campaigners were out leafleting against the sell-off in Widnes town centre.

The campaign will head to Runcorn town centre this Saturday and post cards calling for residents to object to the sell-off will be delivered to homes on both sides of the river in the coming weeks.

Mr Twigg told the Weekly News: “IŠ oppose the full privatisation of the Royal Mail.

“It is a great British public service and it should remain, alongside the Post Office, in the public’s ownership.

“The Government is rushing to sell off the Royal Mail to raise funds to cover the gaping hole in government finances caused by George Osborne’s mismanagement of the economy.

“I am pleased to support the CWU and my constituents who work in Royal Mail, in their campaign.’’

Cllr Polhill added: “If the sale goes ahead, it will be daylight robbery, by a Government that is out of touch and desperately trying to mimic the sell- offs during the Thatcher years.

“Vince Cable and his Lib Dem friends are acting little better than the Tories.’’

Mr Cable said 10% of shares would be given to Royal Mail employees, while the public would also be able to buy shares, alongside bigger institutional investors.

A majority stake in the business will be sold, but the exact size will depend on market conditions.

The sale will take place over the next 12 months.

Mr Cable claims privatisation is needed so the company can access funds by borrowing on the commercial markets without contributing to Government debt.

But the CWU challenged the argument and has laid out a detailed model for how the company would operate with social, commercial and ethical responsibilities which would allow the company to remain publicly owned and have access to capital.

Carl Webb, CWU North West regional secretary, said: “MPs like Derek Twigg and council leaders like Rob Polhill fully understand what a public Royal Mail provides for the people of Halton and the benefits it brings to the local economy.

“If privatised, small businesses and the public would be hit by rising prices and by the reduction to the one-price-goes-anywhere next-day delivery as Royal Mail focuses on increasing shareholder profits.

“Royal Mail made over £400m last year – this money should be invested in the company and the staff not given to financial institutions and shareholders.”

Angela Teeling, CWU Merseyside branch secretary, added: “Royal Mail has over the last few years removed hundreds of jobs from Merseyside and Cheshire, the upshot of privatisation will be even more job cuts and an attack on our members’ terms and conditions, which will be resisted by all means necessary.”

A recent ballot of CWU members saw a hefty 96% vote against the sell-off, on a turnout of 74%.

Last week, a poll commissioned by the Conservative Bow Group revealed only half the public (53%) are aware of the proposed sale, and the CWU say this is evidence that the plans are being ‘rushed through’ without a proper public debate.

In another poll published by YouGov, two thirds of the public are opposed to the sell off, with more than a third ‘strongly opposed’.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Halton MP Derek Twigg joins CWU protest against Royal Mail sell-off. HALTON’S MP and council leader have joined forces with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to campaign against the privatisation of the Royal Mail.

Thank you. Support appreciated. Hope this is raised in parliament as promised.

“Vince Cable and his Lib Dem friends are acting little better than the Tories.’’

I'd say worse. I think we all expected better from them 2 or 3 years ago, but they sold their soul to be in power, and to hell with us all. Shame on them.

[scoobydo79]

Have We started to compile a list for forum members to put if their local MPs support privatisation or not? Its time to name ans shame

[scoobydo79]

I sent a card that the Union sent us to My MP and got fobbed off with a standard letter from Department for Business Innovation & Skills explaining WHY Royal Mail needs to be privatised according to Michael Fallon.
Nothing from the MP himself who clearly approves privatisation.
Did any one on here get much support from their MP?

[Robbo318]

I had a nice reply from mine (Nick Smith, Labour, Blaenau Gwent) he is totaly against privitisation.

[scoobydo79]

Cmon people. Lets have a few more names.Is Your local MP goin to fight for Your cause or not?

[music4essex]

Mine is not, I wrote a letter a couple of months ago. Rebecca Harris Essex MUM

[governor13]

Rosie cooper in west Lancashire opposes the plans for privatisation , so she's got our back :)

[Danelectro]

Unless Mr Twigg asks why such an important driver for local economies as Royal mail cannot then become Labour party policy to renationalise/majority stake, then its just the usual suspects playing to the union gallery.He needs to demand clear Labour Party policies that will fight for Royal mail before and after a sale.As Fallon has pointed out, investors will be noting that Labour have no plans to reverse any part of a privatised Royal Mail.Talk is cheap- Wheres the policies?

[baldrick]

I don't recall Mr Twigg speaking out against privatisation of Royal Mail when Mandelson was proposing it. But they were both New Labour Ministers then.

[Sharkeyes]

I don't recall Mr Twigg speaking out against privatisation of Royal Mail when Mandelson was proposing it. But they were both New Labour Ministers then.

That is why Labour can not be trusted again on privatization and they 'KNOW' the reasons as to why but like the Tories and Lib-Dems, they'll never publically come out say why. It's easy for Labour, being in opposition now, to jump on our campaign because it suits their purpose and claim the credit. I welcome the support of individual MP's against privatization but these will the ones who are not privy to what the senior members who were ministers would know.
It doesn't matter 'who' is in power in Westminster, the real truth and fact of the matter is, that the future or rather the 'Death' of Royal Mail was signed off when our government of the day signed 'The LISBON TREATY'. This contained amendments to 'Articles' such as 97/67/ec & 2002/39/ec which instructs the governments of all member states of the EU to take steps to bring about legislation to comply with these articles. Initially Luxembourg was granted an exemption from this for 2 years but Hungary also applied for an exemption and has been granted. Holland and Germany have already complied and they're respective national postal carriers have suffered immensely. In plain English, as with 80% of our laws, they are a direct result of EU legislation which basically says that the EU doesn't care how you do it (2010 Postal Services Act in our case), but make sure you do it or be put before the European courts in Strasbourg for breach of contract under the 'Lisbon Treaty', which (UK) 'you signed'.
Labour, the Tories & Lib-Dems know this and their parties actively support it. Their own MEP's rubber stamped it. Their UN-ELECTED EU Commissioners drew the whole thing up and they all get very well paid for it and will get very generous pensions out of it too. That is why when in opposition, the naïve back bench MP's will NOT support Privatisation, but those who have been in Westminster for too long and been a government minister will secretly support it in opposition and publically support it when in government.
All 3 main parties have not only botched the whole thing, they have stabbed us in the back and lied to us every step of the way. The best we can achieve in reality at this moment in time is to get it put on the back burner so that it's too close to the next election to be rushed through. That will the achievement that we need attain in the short term. In the long term, the only way that we can avoid this evil demon raising its ugly head again in the future is for us to leave the EU and stop them pulling our weak incompetent self serving governments what they can and can't do in our own country.

[scoobydo79]

Well put Sharkeyes