(From www.keepthepostpublic.org)

The Royal Mail and the Post Office are part of the fabric of British society. They provide a universal service to all. Postal workers deliver to every door regardless of the wealth that lies behind it. In its queues we are all equal citizens. Businesses of every size and shape rely on it. For elderly people, those with disabilities, parents, the low-paid and those in rural communities its services are essential. It works well and could work a lot better if it were modernised and properly invested in.

The CWU Keep the Public Posted Campaign 

Tourists visiting the UK's iconic John O'Groats landmark gave the CWU nationwide Keeping the Public Posted campaign launch the big "thumbs up" yes on Tuesday.

Over the next two months, the campaign will visit every region of the UK, asking members of the public everywhere to sign our giant postcard to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging him to drop plans to privatise Royal Mail.

On the windswept extremity of Britain, CWU Scottish regional secretary John Brown, whose nation is hosting the first week of the campaign, said: "It's been a fantastic launch, what a great place to start and we've had support already from some of the tourists we've met.

"Tomorrow, we're off to Perth," he added.  

Holidaying sub-postmaster David May, on a motorcycle tour with friends, saw the CWU postcard next to the cliff edge and remarked: "well I certainly agree with that for a start."  

As he added his message to the Prime Minister on the card, David, whose wife also runs a post office, explained their concerns over the future of this vital network and wished the CWU "all the best" with the campaign.  And two caravanning couples - from Lancaster and Newark - voiced their disagreement with the government's sell-off plans, Lancaster man Phil Cooper also signing for his dog Ebony.  

"Just to show we all agree," he joked.

CWU head of communications Kevin Slocombe said that he was not surprised to encounter public support even at such a remote location.  "It seems everyone we speak to is staunchly opposed to any Royal Mail sale," he explained, "and the government must sit up and take notice."

Scottish Campaign Details 

It commences on Saturday (May 2nd) in Aberdeen, the Official Press Launch will be at John O'Groats on Tuesday (May 5th) at 12.30pm and we will then continue down and across Scotland over the next few days. Perth on Wednesday (May 6th), Glasgow on Thursday (May 7th), Edinburgh on Friday (May 8th) and culminating in a short March & Rally in Kirkcaldy on Saturday (May 9th).

March in Kirkcaldy 

The march in Kirkcaldy will assemble at 11.00am (approx) at the Esplanade at Nicol Street, moving off about 11.30am and going along either the Esplanade or High Street to Dunikier Road and then on to the Glebe Park Neighbourhood Centre for a Rally finishing at 1.00pm and then on to Starks Park for photo shoots, publicity and petitioning/leafletting.

CWU Statement 

 The Royal Mail and the Post Office are part of the fabric of British society. They provide a universal service to all. Postal workers deliver to every door regardless of the wealth that lies behind it. In its queues we are all equal citizens. Businesses of every size and shape rely on it. For elderly people, those with disabilities, parents, the low-paid and those in rural communities its services are essential. It works well and could work a lot better if it were modernised and properly invested in.  

This is what we need to see happen; not any of the various forms of privatisation the government is now proposing. The proposals the government currently has on the table would begin to break up the postal service, be less efficient and would start to see services cherry picked for profit not for the benefit of people. We call on the government to drop its plans for any privatisation of Royal Mail and to begin the process of modernising this valued public service and the establishment of a fully fledged Peoples’ Bank based on the Post Office counters network.