Postal Staff Warn of Action over Privatisation of Public Services

ELECTION 2001: Postal staff warn of action over privatisation of public services
Financial Times; Jun 4, 2001
By ROBERT TAYLOR

Postal workers yesterday added their voice to union warnings that the government could face a wave of industrial action if it tries to increase the use of the private sector to run public services.

The communication workers union conference yesterday voted unanimously to oppose attempts to privatise Consignia, the former Post Office, by “all the means necessary, including the use of industrial action”.

The warning came just days after the Financial Times revealed that leaders of Unison, Britain’s biggest union, are supporting industrial action to prevent the wider use of the private sector in the National Health Service.

Gordon Brown, chancellor, tried to calm union nerves at the GMB general union’s annual conference in an attempt to defuse what could be a damaging row in the run up to polling day. “Labour’s commitment is clear – investment matched by necessary reform that never loses the sight of the ethos of public service,” Mr Brown told GMB members in Brighton.

But in Bournemouth, the CWU voted for a massive public campaign against any proposed privatisation and called for co-operation with other unions fighting for the same cause. Delegates expressed concern that an attempt might be made by any future private sector employer to worsen the existing terms and conditions of the postal workers as a result of a change in owner.

The union fears that UPS, the US postal services company, may be asked to take on some of the postal business and that the German company Siemens is being considered for sorting and delivery services.

Although the GMB union decided to move their debate about the privatisation of the public services to tomorrow morning in order to avoid any embarrassment for Mr Brown, its motions indicate widespread concern among delegates of what is normally regarded as Labour’s loyalist union.

A wide range of motions expresses dismay and concern at the use of the Best Value programme for the privatising of local authority services.

“Competitive tendering appears to be the only aspect that carries any weight with this government,” one motion suggests. While another complains that Best Value is being used to erode the terms and conditions of local authority workers.

Mr Brown, who was given a standing ovation by most delegates, appeared to question whether the government did intend, if elected on Thursday, to extend private company activity within the public sector.

“It is only because some people have forgotten the chaos, the unreliable pre-war voluntary, charitable private provision that they can contemplate a return to privatised health and services.”