Postal union urges halt in Whitehall switch to private sector

The government has been urged to stop Whitehall departments switching to Royal Mail competitors for their postal services, after the Department for Work and Pensions signed a deal with a private operator to handle its bulk mailings. The Communications Workers’ Union said it was disappointed that government departments were considering using private contractors at a time when the Department of Trade and Industry was still mulling its investment plans for the state-owned postal service. The DWP said the decision to put the work to tender reflected its need to make savings and followed the recommendations of the National Audit Office.