Union attacks UK Royal Mail boss

ALLAN LEIGHTON, chairman of Royal Mail, was called “an out-of-control public servant” by the main postal union yesterday, after he sent a letter to all staff promoting the merits of employee share ownership.

Billy Hayes, the general secretary of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), said: “We’re now finding ourselves in a crazy situation where an out-of control public servant who was appointed by the Government to run a public company is pressurising that same Government to effectively privatise the public service. He has no authority to do this.”

Mr Leighton’s letter to all 180,000 employees of Royal Mail sets out a series of recommendations for the shares. It concludes: “If you would like to receive your free shares please register your interest by completing the enclosed slip and sending it back to me in the pre-paid envelope within the next seven days.”

Legislation is needed to create the shares and 199 Labour MPs have signed a Commons early day motion opposing any change of ownership of Royal Mail.

Employees have been told for the first time that shares would be able to be sold back into a trust after three or five years of ownership.

The CWU is balloting its members on their support for public ownership and the union’s vision for the future of Royal Mail. The result is due this month at the union’s conference.