Prime Minister heckled by Royal Mail protesters
The Prime Minister was booed and jeered by more than 100 Royal Mail protesters when he arrived at Filton College's WISE Academy for a speech this morning.
Members of the Communications Workers Union waved banners and placards as the Prime Ministers convoy entered the college grounds in New Road, Stoke Gifford, flanked by police.
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Prime Minister heckled by Royal Mail protesters
They were angered by an announcement earlier this week from Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, who said around 30 per cent of Royal Mail could be sold off to a foreign firm in a part-privatisation deal.
More than 130 Labour rebels have put their names to a Commons motion opposing the proposals.
Kevin Slocombe, head of communications for the CWU said: "This is about the fact that a policy was set in October saying that ownership of the Royal Mail should be wholly public.
"Now, with a flick of his pen, Lord Mandelson is ignoring that and selling the Post Office to foreign investors.
"We are here to remind the Government that the British public don't want the Royal Mail sold off."
One protestor Phil Cadwick, 43, has worked for the Royal Mail for 25 years and had travelled all the way from Exeter to make his views known.
He said: "I want to let the Government know that this is completely outrageous.
"We want 100 per cent public ownership of the Royal Mail.
"We were told that the Labour Party had agreed there should be 100 per cent public ownership.
"Now it seems they don't care what anybody thinks."
Speaking to a gathering of Labour's National Policy Forum inside the college, Mr Brown said protestors had to "face facts" over the future of the service.
He said: "I think we all recognise that the Royal Mail, which is part of the fabric of our country, faces huge challenges.
"I ask you to consider the facts we have to face.
"There is an £8 billion deficit appearing in the pension fund of the Royal Mail; there is a loss of business of sometimes seven to eight per cent each year as a result of new technology; there is a race to keep many of the very big customers who provide the majority of the work that the Royal Mail does.
"I know this is difficult, but we will continue to talk and address the concerns people have.
"But I assure you the Government is looking at how we can best prepare for the future, not only of the Royal Mail but the future of all public services in the country."
6 Comments
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by lee, At Work
Monday, March 02 2009, 3:28PM
“Is there anything in England that is really English anymore, i nean come on not even our postal firm will be run by English people and they call it Royal Mail still?!!?”
by lee, At Work
Monday, March 02 2009, 3:28PM
“Is there anything in England that is really English anymore, i nean come on not even our postal firm will be run by English people and they call it Royal Mail still?!!?”
by Clive, Bristol
Monday, March 02 2009, 8:37AM
“This is all about Peter Mandelson and his personal objectives. He is only interested in his own bank account and looking after his friends. I wouldn't trust him to take my dog for a walk.”
by Shelly, Bristol
Sunday, March 01 2009, 4:01PM
“I can't believe that the govt are even considering selling part of the royal mail to a foreign company. Especially not after what has been going on recently with foreign workers being shipped in. My hubby works for a mobile phone company which is owned by a French firm and he and many others have been refused a pay rise this year. I Doubt it is for the reasons that they have given I suspect that it is because they are looking after their own workers in France at the expense of the British workforce. We will see this happening more and more often with foreign owned firms who care nothing for the UK workforce . Keep the Royal Mail in state ownership. The govt were quick to hand over a blank cheque to a greedy bunch of bankers they should be doing more to help this national institution!”
by postman, bristol
Sunday, March 01 2009, 10:32AM
“don't support this idea keep it in the public once this happens it will be too late the service will get even worse and if the govenment can bail out the banks for 1 trillion then 8-9 billion would be alot lot less and royal mail could put some of there profits into the pension fund also .”