Hundreds fight Royal Mail privatisation

Around 700 protesters took to the streets of Nottingham in the UK to campaign against the privatisation of Royal Mail on Saturday. Postal workers and residents marched through Beeston before a rally took place at the New Venture Social Club.

The event was organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) – who represent Royal Mail workers.

Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, and CWU general secretary Billy Hayes (pictured), spoke at the rally.

Hayes said: “Privatising Royal Mail will be disastrous for people who rely on post offices and the mail service.”

Lee Barron, CWU Midlands regional secretary, said: “People in Nottingham don’t want the post to be privatised. We’ve already seen post office closures in Nottinghamshire and privatisation will bring more cuts and closures.

“Private companies are only interested in profit, not in delivering mail to every house, urban or rural, six days a week.”

Saturday’s march formed a part of the CWU’s anti-privatisation campaign. Last month a protest took place in Witney, Oxfordshire – the home constituency of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Speaking to Post&Parcel, a CWU spokesperson said: “The room [at the New Venture Social Club] holds 600 people, and people were forced to stand down the sides and at the back of the hall.

“We are pleased with how the day went – it’s all part of a big effort.”