In a move that would have made even Thatcher blush, this Thursday sees New Labour's latest attempt to sell off more of the family silver with a bill to privitise around 30% of the Royal Mail. Despite meeting with fierce opposition from back bench Labour MP’s and trade unionists, an unholy alliance of New Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MP’s are  set to back the proposals which Lord Mandelson has said are required if the Royal Mail is to survive in its current form. 

Link to Solidarity member and postie George McDonald's article on royal mail privitisation

139 Labour MP’s have signed a motion in what is likely to be the biggest back bench rebellion of Gordon Brown’s tenure as Prime Minister. Billy Hayes the General Secretary of The CWU has hit out at the proposals saying; 

“We urge the government to respond to the justified concerns of UK citizens who do not want to see this valuable public asset carved up”

The Union plans a rally in Westminster on Tuesday 24th February to be addressed by leading trade union figures.

CWU Rally

Tuesday 24th February 12 noon - 2.00 p.m.
Lecture Hall, Central Hall, Westminster, Storey's Gate, London SW1H 9NH

The rally will be addressed by:

· Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary, Labour Party National Policy Forum Vice Chair
· Dave Ward, CWU Deputy General Secretary (Postal), and Labour Party National Policy Forum representative (NPF)
· Geraldine Smith MP, Sponsor of EDM 428, Morecombe & Lunesdale CLP
· Tony Benn, Former MP and Postmaster General
· John McDonnell MP, Chair of the Labour Representation Committee
Hayes and Harlington CLP
· Brendan Barber, General Secretary Trades Union Congress

Other speakers are:

Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary UNITE, Michael Connarty MP, Linlithgow & East Falkirk CLP, Lord Clarke, Former Deputy General Secretary UCW, St Albans CLP, Katy Clarke MP, North Ayrshire & Arran CLP, Neal Lawson, Chair of Compass, Paul Kenny, General Secretary GMB and Vice Chair of TULIO, Bob Crow, General Secretary RMT Gerry Doherty, General Secretary TSSA, Alan Donnelly, President ASLEF, Neil Anderson, Union Network International (UNI), Andy Kerr, CWU Deputy General Secretary (Telecoms & Financial Services) and CWU representative on the Labour Party National Executive.

Please see: www.cwu.org/it-s-time-to-deliver-a-positive-future-for-royal-mail.html