http://post.cwu.org/ Latest news from the CWU's Keep The Post Public en Copyright 2009 2009-07-07T15:36:03+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/from_northern_rock_to_post_bank/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/from_northern_rock_to_post_bank/ The Post Bank Coalition has launched the first detailed proposals for delivering a Post Bank, including options like using the government-owned bank Northern Rock as the basis for a new state-backed bank in the Post Office. The report comes as MPs on the Business & Enterprise Select Committee consider the future of the Post Office. 2009-07-07T15:36:03+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/time_for_the_post_bank/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/time_for_the_post_bank/ Now that the Royal Mail will stay in public hands, the time has come has to modernise it as a public service. 2009-07-02T23:26:16+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/thank_you/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/thank_you/ There is widespread coverage of the government’s re-think on the Royal Mail in today’s press. Many commentators credit the vigorous campaign to Keep the Post Public for making sure that backbench Labour MPs pressured the government in to dropping the sell off. 2009-07-02T16:04:40+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/britain_keeps_the_post_public/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/britain_keeps_the_post_public/ The CWU has welcomed this afternoon’s statement by Lord Mandelson to the House of Lords confirming that the Postal Services Bill will not be heard by Parliament this session and that the bidding process will not be concluded. 2009-07-01T16:17:02+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/stalling_for_time/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/stalling_for_time/ The Government’s stalling tactics continue. Every Thursday, the Leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman, announces government business in the House of Commons - and yesterday, another week passed with no word on when they plan to bring forward the Postal Services Bill. Our campaign is working - but we still need to do more. 2009-06-26T11:26:56+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/the_time_is_right_for_a_post_bank/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/the_time_is_right_for_a_post_bank/ A comprehensive proposal for a new ‘Post Bank’ to run as part of the post office network will be launched at the Scottish Parliament today. 2009-06-25T20:06:23+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/progressive_london_keep_the_post_public/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/progressive_london_keep_the_post_public/ CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes has guest blogged over at Progressive London, explaining where we are with the Royal Mail and why we are opposed to the planned sell off. 2009-06-19T14:05:17+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/keeping_a_promise/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/keeping_a_promise/ We need to make sure we keep up the pressure on MPs to stop the sell off of the Royal Mail - we need to show that we have the same resolve as ever. That’s why we are asking all our supporters to contact their MPs again with new letters asking them to vote against the second reading of the Bill which will privatise the Royal Mail. 2009-06-17T16:09:06+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/your_slogan_here/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/your_slogan_here/ As we ramp up our campaign to Keep the Post Public we’re going to be launching a billboard campaign - and we’d like you to write the slogan we use. 2009-06-10T16:11:27+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/cwu_delivers_a_message_for_mps/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/cwu_delivers_a_message_for_mps/ The Communication Workers Union wrote to all Labour MPs today, reaffirming that the only reasonable policy for our post is to ensure Royal Mail is transformed in the public sector. 2009-06-05T15:30:26+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/ken_says_keep_the_post_public/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/ken_says_keep_the_post_public/ Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone has become the latest senior political figure to call on the government to abandon the planned Royal Mail sell off. 2009-06-04T17:26:35+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/northern_ireland_says_no_to_post_privatisation/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/northern_ireland_says_no_to_post_privatisation/ The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected the government’s planned Royal Mail sell off in a unanimous vote of all parties. 2009-06-03T16:23:58+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/privatisers_fall_short/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/privatisers_fall_short/ The government’s case for the proposed Royal Mail sell off has been exposed by the failure of private buyers to make any offers that much the government’s own valuation of the Mail. Critics of the sale had already predicted that selling at the bottom of the market would add poor value for money to the many other flaws of privatisation and they have been proven correct. 2009-06-02T15:00:57+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/compass_organise_emergency_rally/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/compass_organise_emergency_rally/ With the Postal Services Bill set to come before MPs shortly, Compass have organised an emergency rally to Keep The Post Public and make the case for a modern Royal Mail that remains in public hands. 2009-06-01T09:34:34+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/royal_mail_hits_targets_-_in_public_ownership/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/royal_mail_hits_targets_-_in_public_ownership/ Today’s Royal Mail quality of service report shows that the Mail’s staff have hit their targets for first class, second class and business mail over the last year - while still in public ownership. 2009-05-29T13:32:20+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/why_the_haste_with_our_post/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/why_the_haste_with_our_post/ The government got its Postal Services Bill through the unelected House of Lords last week - and has already rushed it through its first stage in the Commons without a vote. 2009-05-22T17:01:37+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/post_bank_in_mps_top_ten/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/post_bank_in_mps_top_ten/ The Motion in Parliament calling for a Post Bank has now got the backing of 200 MPs, making it one of the top ten most supported Motions in the House of Commons. 2009-05-22T15:44:20+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/public_oppose_privatisation/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/public_oppose_privatisation/ An ICM poll published today shows 75% of people now oppose the part-privatisation of Royal Mail, with 60% of people saying it needs to be reformed but must remain in the public sector. 2009-05-20T11:38:03+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/campaign_smashes_targets/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/campaign_smashes_targets/ Following on from our supporters emailing TNT calling on them to drop their plans to buy our postal service, we extended the campaign to another set of potential buyers of Royal Mail: CVC Capital Partners, a shadowy private equity group, and the Belgian Post, which they own and are using as partners in their bid. 2009-05-19T10:50:55+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/unelected_lords_set_to_pass_privatisation_bill/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/unelected_lords_set_to_pass_privatisation_bill/ The Postal Services Bill is set to receive its “Third Reading” by the unelected Lords on Wednesday. That is a last chance to amend the bill before it is sent down the Commons - where elected MPs have the chance to vote on it.   2009-05-18T10:48:11+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/dont_stamp_private_on_the_royal_mail/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/dont_stamp_private_on_the_royal_mail/ Following the latest developments in the Royal Mail controversy, the Observer’s management editor Simon Caulkin became the latest expert to call for an alternative to the government’s privatisation plans. 2009-05-17T10:43:19+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/we_know_this_works/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/we_know_this_works/ Our email to supporters on Tuesday has already triggered over 3000 complaints to the people who want to buy our post. 2009-05-15T10:42:19+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/profit_surge_undermines_privateers/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/profit_surge_undermines_privateers/ Yesterday’s profit announcement from Royal Mail got widespread coverage in the press today - with many drawing the conclusion that the surging profits within public ownership deal a serious blow to the arguments for privatisation. 2009-05-15T10:39:54+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/royal_mail_profits_prove_public_sector_success/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/royal_mail_profits_prove_public_sector_success/ The CWU today welcomed Royal Mail’s doubling of profit as proof that the company can be a successful market leader and modernise under full public ownership. 2009-05-14T10:36:42+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/tnt_feeling_the_heat/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/tnt_feeling_the_heat/ A few weeks ago we asked our supporters to email TNT, calling on them to drop their plans to buy our Royal Mail. Within ten hours, thousands of our supporters took part. 2009-05-12T15:43:40+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/modernisation_by_consent/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/modernisation_by_consent/ The CWU welcomes the document ‘Modernisation by Consent’ published today by Compass. 2009-05-05T15:48:47+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/keeping_the_public_posted/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/keeping_the_public_posted/ A giant 20-foot high post box will make its way across the country in a 12-week campaign aimed at overturning the government’s plans to sell off Royal Mail, starting next Tuesday. 2009-05-01T11:06:28+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/government_has_already_spent_millions_on_sell_off/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/government_has_already_spent_millions_on_sell_off/ Parliamentary Questions have revealed today that the government has spent £3.6 million on external advice and consultants regarding the privatisation of Royal Mail. 2009-04-29T08:59:28+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/compass_rallies/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/compass_rallies/ Compass, whose research has demonstrated the flaws in Mandelson’s privatisation plans, has announced a series of rallies around the country. 2009-04-27T16:08:14+00:00 http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/tnts_latest_trick_fails_in_court/ http://post.cwu.org/index.php/new-blog/entry/tnts_latest_trick_fails_in_court/ Wannabe postal privateer TNT have shown their true regard for the universal postal service - by taking Royal Mail to the European Court and demanding that VAT be levied on postal services. 2009-04-23T16:02:55+00:00