Member News
7th December 2010
The general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), Billy Hayes, outlines the union's concerns about the Postal Services Bill.
The weather has brought a halt to postal deliveries for many over the past week, but if the government’s Postal Services Bill goes through this will be the least of our problems.
The Postal Services Bill (PSB) is currently in committee stage following a very eager introduction to Parliament by Ed Davey and Vince Cable. In its current form it empowers the government to break up and completely privatise Royal Mail and turn the Post Office Counters network into a 'mutually owned' body.
At CWU, we're concerned that the legislation will bring deterioration in postal services, huge price rises and mass post office closures. It currently threatens to undermine the 'one price goes anywhere', six-days-a-week Universal Postal Service enjoyed and supported by the public and business, by failing to provide long-term guarantees.
The viability of the local post office network is also threatened. Splitting the post office from Royal Mail will rob the network of vital income and footfall. Rural and urban post offices alike will be under threat as a privatised Royal Mail (if it still exists as the main postal operator) could opt out of the post office network altogether in favour of a window at Tesco’s with much lower running costs.
The employee share option is frankly a short-term bribe to try and win over the workforce. Postal workers know that there are no free gifts and that shares will almost certainly mean lower pay. What our members want is a guarantee on their pensions and job security in a quality postal company.
These and many more problems with the legislation are worrying for anyone who relies on the post, whether for business mail, bills or Christmas cards and presents. The profit margins of private mail companies will mean either hugely inflated prices, or simply reduced deliveries, no matter what the weather.
We're working with MPs to try to close the gaping holes in the PSB which threaten postal services and post offices. You can follow our campaign at www.cwu.org/keep-the-post-public.html
The Postal Services Bill committee meets on Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th December.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.