Government 'open to Post ideas'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7953662.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The government is open to alternatives to selling off part of the Royal Mail, Labour chief whip Nick Brown has said.

Mr Brown said Royal Mail had to be modernised but said the government was "still listening" if people had ideas for "other ways of raising the money".

With 140 Labour MPs opposing the part-privatisation plan, he said he hoped he would not have to rely on Tory votes.

But he said it would be "completely irresponsible" not to act to deal with the pension fund and regulatory regime.

'A better idea'

Mr Brown told reporters at a lunch in Westminster: "The programme itself is already under way. It has a further two years to go. It needs a further cash injection to keep it going.

"We do need a bill. It is not possible to deal with the problems without sorting out the pension fund, without dealing with the problems of the regulatory regime.

"The government is still listening. If someone has a better idea, go to Peter Mandelson and tell him what it is."

A Communication Workers Union spokesman said there was "a better idea and it involves keeping Royal Mail wholly publicly owned".

He added: "While we welcome progress on modernisation, government responsibility on pensions, and changes to the regulatory regime, there is no logical argument for privatisation.

"Royal Mail can and must remain a successful public service. We will be presenting our ideas to Peter Mandelson and welcome news from the chief whip that the government is listening."

[johnsouthwales]

i always find it amazing that government say they're skint and say to nurses that theres no money available.. and when something else happens, hey presto, theres a few million available to get themselves out of krap... funny money was availale for northern rock. like paul daniels lol.

whe they postoffice closure plan came, a rat was smelt when it was said 'ok, we carry on subsidising p.o if you agree to let us close down the others. what bollix, cos when an earmarked post office on the list was reprieved, they went and closed another ffs.

so those little 'bribes' do not wash anymore.

all euro members have to comply with the liberisation, some smaller countries given a 'period of grace'. germany already 'privatised with dhl being their partner, and other smaller companies who have gone into receivership since, knew there would be redundancies, didnt go down without protests. austria the same, their privatisation programme will result with their government as majority of 51%/49% shareholder. at least we know now that the uk will be 70%/30%
austria is looking at 70% post office closures which is alarming. and one of the latest press polls that an overwhelming result of their public not bothered who runs the postal services. changes in the german postal service, resulted in changes. where sickness is taboo. it costs 0.55euros (up to 50 grammes) to send a standard letter which is about 48 pence. their government went through a minimum wage structure for their postal workers. austria are considering the selling of the postal franchise of letters under 50 grammes as it has said not be sustainable/profitable. each country has it's own problems and criteria.

it's the same in france, their postal workers are regarded as civil servants.

when our service is losing 'up to 3million pounds a day', it does not help when royal mail gets fined by regulator for things that were caused by management in the first place. Mp's always seem to harp on saying its our postal service, owned by the people. we cannot access the ownership. i didn't sanctioned mr crozier's appointment, as for the ownership of royal mail is a 'fable'. strikes were caused by management which resulted in more money.

with further cuts occuring, closures of mail offices, and mergers of others, the forced streamlining of the existing network and staff in ready of time for 2010.

if i was looking for a partnership, i'm sure you would think the same thing...i would like to see your proposal and accounts before i agree. and i'm sure a potential buyer will want to see royal mail's too.. it could be possible that someone will end up subsidsing tnt's debts if they were successful..

whatever happens next year, doesn't mean that it is acceptable for the practices that go on today... tales of harrasment, bullying, intimidation, mail theft. these are detrimental to the industry. if i was an owner, i wouldn't want any harm to come to any off my staff, and that is just common sense in any business.

it's too much of a complex indutry to solve all the problems overnight, but time is running out.