Sir Malcolm Bruce MP - The postal service under independence

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://malcolmbruce.org.uk/en/article/2 ... assessment" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Union puts politics before members' jobs

I was intrigued by the decision of a branch of the Communication Workers Union in Scotland to commit to support independence - firstly, because it seemed to be mostly in the belief that it was the only chance they had of building a socialist republic and secondly, because the resolution made absolutely no reference to the implications of leaving the UK for postal workers.

The main implication of being outside the UK is that the universal service obligation for a flat rate charge for mail anywhere in the UK would no longer apply. Mail users in Scotland would be in the same situation as users in other countries such as Ireland or France with higher postage rates and next day delivery only available at a premium.

For businesses sending volume mail out of Scotland or receiving volume from elsewhere in the UK the costs could increase substantially and affect competitiveness.

When I tweeted about this I received dozens of hostile responses from nationalists which demonstrated a combination of dismissive indifference or a failure to grasp the point. Some argued that with Skype, Twitter, Facebook and e-mail, postage would not be needed. Others raised the fact that there were already North of Scotland surcharges by some carriers. Some said it was a silly point to consider against the big issue of independence.

My point, of course, was that this was just one of many changes that people of Scotland would have to adjust to if we chose to leave the United Kingdom - along with the bigger ones of the future of the currency and economic policy management, renegotiation with the EU, the future of NATO and defence deployment and the funding of welfare payments.

[Danelectro]

http://malcolmbruce.org.uk/en/article/2 ... assessment

Union puts politics before members' jobs

I was intrigued by the decision of a branch of the Communication Workers Union in Scotland to commit to support independence - firstly, because it seemed to be mostly in the belief that it was the only chance they had of building a socialist republic and secondly, because the resolution made absolutely no reference to the implications of leaving the UK for postal workers.

The main implication of being outside the UK is that the universal service obligation for a flat rate charge for mail anywhere in the UK would no longer apply. Mail users in Scotland would be in the same situation as users in other countries such as Ireland or France with higher postage rates and next day delivery only available at a premium.

For businesses sending volume mail out of Scotland or receiving volume from elsewhere in the UK the costs could increase substantially and affect competitiveness.

When I tweeted about this I received dozens of hostile responses from nationalists which demonstrated a combination of dismissive indifference or a failure to grasp the point. Some argued that with Skype, Twitter, Facebook and e-mail, postage would not be needed. Others raised the fact that there were already North of Scotland surcharges by some carriers. Some said it was a silly point to consider against the big issue of independence.

My point, of course, was that this was just one of many changes that people of Scotland would have to adjust to if we chose to leave the United Kingdom - along with the bigger ones of the future of the currency and economic policy management, renegotiation with the EU, the future of NATO and defence deployment and the funding of welfare payments.

With today the CWU voting for a boycott of mail because of all the issues Mr Bruce is saying will happen in an independent Scotland then he seems to pick and choose when he apples his economic rational.