UK Royal Mail under fire over ban on ballot

ROYAL MAIL was accused last night of appearing undemocratic and heavy-handed after banning unions from conducting a ballot at work on employee share ownership (see Commentary, facing page).

The Times has learnt that all mail managers have been told to prohibit the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) from holding a consultative ballot in mail centres on the controversial plans for share ownership. Managers were also told to tear down union posters that are not on designated notice boards.

The ban comes as Allan Leighton, Royal Mail’s chairman, has written to all employees extolling the virtues of share ownership and asking for their support via a freepost address, the deadline for which has just been extended.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “For a public company to deny the opportunity of the workforce to express an opinion and also to seek to undermine the Labour Party manifesto commitment to keep Royal Mail in the public sector is deeply disturbing for standards in public life.”

Peter Luff, the Conservative chairman of the Commons Trade and Industry Committee, said: “The committee was very sceptical about share ownership as a method of incentivising employees. This action by Royal Mail is very odd and almost undemocratic. The union should be allowed to express their view.”

Ed Davey, trade and industry spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: “There is a danger that this looks undemocratic and heavy-handed and could undermine the case for greater share ownership.”

Share ownership, which Mr Leighton has made a cornerstone of his plans for Royal Mail, has proved highly controversial. Many opponents view it as the first step to privatisation and the Trade and Industry Committee described it as “incoherent”.

A memo to all Royal Mail managers on Friday promoted Mr Leighton’s letter, but said of the CWU ballot: “It is a political exercise which is not appropriate in the workplace.”

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “There is a clear and agreed industrial relations framework and a union consultative ballot doesn’t qualify for facilities support.”

Consultative ballots are used by unions to gauge opinion and are usually conducted at work rather than through the post.

The CWU accused Mr Leighton of using “quasi-legal terms” in his letter offering free shares, which can only be created after primary legislation. A Commons motion opposing the creation of employee shares has been signed by 199 Labour MPs.