Parly Post privatised strike threat over switch

Royal Mail workers may go on strike to stop MSPs privatising the Holyrood postal service.

Civil servants are set to hand the lucrative contract to deliver MSPs’ mail to an English firm.

The pounds 1million contract will go to Business Post in Slough.

But the postal workers union CWU will ballot on industrial action over the move, which could see 13 Holyrood postmen made redundant.

Strike action in Edinburgh would cripple the Scottish postal service because the city’s Brunswick Road sorting office is one of the country’s most important hubs.

The Royal Mail has provided a first-class service since the Parliament opened in 1999 but the contract is to be split in two.

The Royal Mail may win the less lucrative contract to screen and deliver mail to the Parliament.

But they are not expected to win the more attractive contract to run the Holyrood mailroom, which handles post leaving the building.

That is expected to go to Business Post, whose chairman is Scots Bill Cockburn, former chairman of the Post Office and BT.

If Business Post succeed, they will pick up outgoing MSP and civil service post – then hand most of it to the Royal Mail to deliver.

CWU deputy general secretary John Keggie said: “It’s nonsense. Both contracts must be kept by the Royal Mail. If they are split, the Royal Mail will pay a heavy price.

“Our members in Edinburgh will decide this week if they should ballot on industrial action over this.

“We have not been consulted at all over an action which could see members lose their jobs. We will overturn this and consider methods other than industrial action.”

Royal Mail members may refuse to handle Business Post mail .

Mr Keggie said: `I’m calling for an urgent inquiry into how both the Royal Mail and the Civil Service have handled this.

“It would be a public relations disaster if the contract goes to a private company.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are still in negotiations with the Parliament over part of the contract.”

Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie will put down a motion in parliament tomorrow opposing the privatisation.

The Labour MSP said: “It is absolutely crazy that a new Parliament like ours would privatise its mail contract. We should be setting an example for local authorities and businesses throughout Scotland.

“We should stick with a public service like Royal Mail. I will be putting down a motion on this tomorrow and I hope I can get all-party support to oppose this.”

Under EU laws, such contracts must to go to tender so the Government doesn’t fall foul of competition laws.