Leaders clash over postal dispute

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8318434.stm

Page last updated at 13:59 GMT, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 14:59 UK



David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of lacking the "courage and leadership" to intervene in the postal dispute to prevent two days of planned strikes.

Since plans to part-privatise Royal Mail had been shelved "union militancy has got worse," the Tory leader said.

Mr Brown said that had nothing to do with the dispute and urged unions and managers to agree a deal.

The Commons clash came as union leaders met to decide whether to go ahead with strikes on Thursday and Friday.

The postal executive of the Communication Workers' Union is meeting to hear a report after more than 30 hours of talks this week with Royal Mail about the dispute over jobs, pay and modernisation. They are due to make a statement at 1700 BST.

'Counter-productive'

Both sides have been in contact on Wednesday by phone and email but no more face-to-face talks are scheduled ahead of the two planned national 24-hour strikes.

At prime minister's questions, Mr Brown said the strike would be "counter-productive" for the business, its staff and the public.


This trade union can sense weakness and they see weakness in the prime minister and this government
David Cameron
Conservative leader

Politicians should be urging "negotiation and mediation," he said, adding: "It's in nobody's interest that this strike goes ahead."

But Mr Cameron accused the PM of dropping legislation to reform Royal Mail - which was strongly opposed by unions and Labour MPs - adding: "This trade union can sense weakness and they see weakness in the prime minister and this government."

Mr Brown said the bill, which would have sold off part of the Royal Mail, had "nothing to do with the dispute at the moment", which he said dated back to 2007.

'Condemn it'

The prime minister said the reason the plan had been halted was that there was no commercial buyer for the service - he also claimed a Conservative frontbencher had said they were not sure the Tories could sell it either, if they won power.

But Mr Cameron said his party would support the bill and asked why Mr Brown did not have "the guts" to bring it to the House of Commons.

"Since the government abandoned part-privatisation of the Royal Mail, union militancy has got worse," he said.

"You didn't stop the bill because you couldn't sell the Royal Mail. You stopped the bill because you couldn't sell it to your own backbenchers."


The 2007 modernisation is at the heart of this dispute and that is what's got to be moved forward. The bill is nothing to do with this dispute
Gordon Brown

Mr Cameron urged the prime minister to "condemn these strikes and join me in sending a direct message to the trade union to call this strike off".

But Mr Brown accused him of bringing industrial relations "into the political arena".

"It would be far better if the Conservative Party and other parties encouraged there to be negotiation and, if necessary, arbitration on this matter."

He told Mr Cameron: "I would urge you to reflect on your comments as to whether anything you are saying is making it easier for us to solve what is a difficult dispute."

'Clearly preposterous'

But Mr Cameron said the issue was already in the political arena as the CWU gave money to the Labour Party.

Later Lib Dem frontbencher Norman Baker told BBC Radio 4's World at One it was "mischievous" to suggest the strikes were linked to the decision to withdraw the bill.

But he said Mr Brown had "clearly" dropped the bill in the face of anger from his own backbenchers as it could have been taken through without a buyer so the legislation was in place when needed.

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said it was "clearly preposterous" to link the strike and the dispute as it went back "years".

He warned that the dispute "threatens the future of the Royal Mail" and could result in "serious redundancies among the workforce" and said it could only be solved through negotiation.

Rail Maritime and Transport general secretary Bob Crow said the CWU was at the forefront of a fight to protect jobs, working conditions and pensions and said his members would join picket lines if the strikes went ahead.

"We can all see the vultures of the private sector sniffing around the Royal Mail, looking for any opportunity to kill off the universal service and turn the post into a money-making racket that mirrors the experience on the railways."

[westlondonpostie]

Looks like Cameron and the Tories are in favour of Bullying and Harrassment in the workplace,

[Lincox]

Nothing new there. It was invented by the infamous Iron lady

[Pat Ostman]

Looks like Cameron and the Tories are in favour of Bullying and Harrassment in the workplace,

Spot on

[westlondonpostie]

Looks like Cameron and the Tories are in favour of Bullying and Harrassment in the workplace,

Spot on

I might be bothered if it had come from someone who hadn't been found guilty of fiddling his expenses, but because he's paid it back thats OK.