NW MPs Urged To Sign EDM428

CWU NW Regional Secretary Carl Webb has written to all the region's MPs urging them to sign Geraldine Smith, early day motion regarding Royal Mail and the possible privatisation of the service.

The terms of the letter are reproduced here for members information:

Dear.......

Ref: EDM 428 – ROYAL MAIL

I am writing to you on behalf of all CWU members within your constituency, asking that you to sign EDM 428– Royal Mail.

EDM 428 – Royal Mail                                                                 Smith, Geraldine

That this House notes that the Labour Party Conference 2008, with the backing of Ministers, supported a vision of a wholly publicly-owned, integrated Royal Mail Group; welcomes the conclusion of the Hooper Report that the current universal service obligation offered by Royal Mail, including six days a week delivery, must be protected and that the primary duty of a new regulator should be to maintain it; further welcomes the recommendations in the Report that the Government should take responsibility for the pensions deficit which followed an extended contributions holiday; endorses the call for a new relationship between management and postal unions and welcomes the commitment of the Communication Workers Union to negotiate an agreement which would support the modernisation of the industry; observes that in 2007 the Government agreed to a £1.2 billion loan facility on commercial terms to modernise Royal Mail operations; rejects the recommendation of the Hooper Report to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail which would risk fracturing one of Britain's greatest public services; further notes that the Government is currently advertising for a new Chair of Royal Mail; and urges the Secretary of State to appoint a Chair and management team who are committed to the principles of a modern public enterprise.

The CWU welcomes Hopper’s conclusion that the universal service obligation must be protected and that the primary duty of a new regulator should be to maintain it. The EDM and the CWU reject, however, the recommendation to sell a minority stake in Royal Mail.

The decision taken at the 2008 Labour Party Conference, supported by the government and the Labour Party’s manifesto, committed the Labour Government to keep Royal Mail wholly publicly-owned. North West CWU Branches strongly believe that all Labour backbench MPs including Private Parliamentary Secretaries should have no reservations in signing EDM 428.

The CWU believe that as the dominant and sole provider of most services Royal Mail can help shape the market like no other firm. If it becomes demand-led and adapts to customers’ needs then it can help expand the market. With innovative products (tailored to meet customer needs) greater use of new technology in (areas like data conveyance, mail production and track and trace) and a greater commitment from RM management we believe the company can be successful and help stimulate market growth in the future, without the need to privatise it.

The CWU is also ready and willing to set a new course for industrial relations and will continue to support the modernisation of the company. Modernisation must be jointly managed in a way that not only leads to improvements in the services we provide to our customers but also provides postal workers with the best possible job security, terms and conditions. We therefore reject the slash and burn approach of some Royal Mail managers under the guise of modernisation.

The CWU will be writing to all MPs over the next few weeks to explain the union’s position in more detail. In the meantime, if you wish to meet to discuss this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours Sincerely,

Carl Webb

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