Blair accused over mail deliveries plans
Union leaders have accused the Prime Minister of refusing to meet them to discuss controversial plans to switch mail deliveries from rail to road.
A delegation of MPs is due to meet Tony Blair next week to discuss the issue, but union leaders claimed they had been snubbed.
Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, said the door was always open to business leaders, but had been “slammed in the faces” of unions.
“Royal Mail is a publicly-owned company and its decision to ditch mail on rail flies in the face of Government policy, public opinion and simple common sense.
“The Government could reverse this decision with one telephone call. There is no way Mr Blair can spin his way out of this one.”
Mick Rix, general secretary of the Train Drivers Union Aslef, told delegates at the TUC congress in Brighton today that the Government had “reversed” a pledge to meet unions.
The Royal Mail is switching the transportation of post from mail trains to lorries as part of a cost-cutting programme which it maintains will improve efficiency.
