Mandelson must answer over Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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The UK government’s handling of the Royal Mail strikes has come under criticism, with SNP Business and Enterprise spokesperson Mike Weir MP calling on Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to answer accusations from the Communication Workers Union that the Minister was working to block a settlement.

Mr Weir said:

“We have a situation where Peter Mandelson is facing accusations of exerting a malign influence while, as usual, Gordon Brown is trying to deny all responsibility for the crisis. The UK Government’s privatisation agenda has brought chaos to our postal service, they are presiding over a deeply damaging dispute, and are now trying to wash their hands of it.

“Lord Mandelson’s position is incomprehensible given the damage being caused by this dispute, and the fact that the UK Government is itself the only shareholder in Royal Mail.


“The whole country wants a solution – for both sides to get round the table and resolve the dispute – but Lord Mandelson and the UK Government are clearly part of the problem. Peter Mandelson has to answer these accusations so that we can get the situation back to an even keel and the dispute resolved as quickly as possible.”

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The SNP conference has passed a topical resolution condemning moves by the Royal Mail and UK government to seek confrontation with the post office workers’ union – the Communications Workers Union – as a means to press ahead with privatization plans.

The revelations were outlined in Royal Mail documents obtained by the BBC's Newsnight showing the company planning to exclude union members in their plans to try and privatise the Royal Mail.

Welcoming the passing of the resolution Christina McKelvie MSP – the SNP Trade Union Group’s Parliamentary representative – said the disclosures highlighted why trade union members should dump the Labour party and ensure they did not pay a political levy to Labour.

Commenting Ms McKelvie said:

“This week’s revelations showing collusion between Royal Mail the Labour government to exclude the trade unions from their privatisation proposals expose the depths which the Labour party will now go. That they will provoke a dispute deliberately is shocking.

“It also shows the contempt they have for union members who have been funding the Labour party. Many of them I know will be looking at stopping those donations.

“Royal Mail must remain in public hands and the SNP will continue to fight for the retention of publicly-owned postal services.”

ENDS

Notes:

1. The resolution as passed is as follows:

ATTACK ON UNION RIGHTS BY ROYAL MAIL

Conference notes the emergence of documents, revealed by the BBC, outlining plans by Royal Mail to fight the forthcoming industrial action without agreement of the workforce.

Conference regrets that Royal Mail has refused an offer of arbitration, amid signs of Westminster government interference.

Conference condemns moves by Royal Mail to attack trade union facility time as clearly an unacceptable bullying measure.

[zapranoth]

Thats good,shame the snp has just given TNT an £8 million pound contract.We`ll thrive with support like that.