Post Union cuts funds to Labour by third

THE Communication Workers’ Union is to cut its donations to the Labour Party. Billy Hayes, the general secretary, said yesterday it would cut its funding by pounds 500,000 over the next three years, a third of the CWU’s usual donation. “Like any other organisation, we have a limited budget. We have to make decisions about how best to campaign on behalf of our members in the postal industry and in telecommunications.” The CWU, the largest postal workers’ union, has threatened strike action over plans by Consignia, formerly the Post Office, to make a further 10,000 staff redundant in addition to almost 5,000 job losses announced earlier this year. Mr Hayes denied the donation cut was a symbolic gesture but hoped the Government would take notice. He said the money would be used to fund a campaign against the “privatisation” of the postal service. Later, David Triesman, the Labour Party’s general secretary, said the leadership would not be held to ransom by unions cutting their donations to influence policy.