This week the British government proposed plans to sell off Britain's oldest national owned service, the Royal Mail. The Royal Mail has existed for nearly 500 years and government plans to sell at least half of the postal service for £3 billion in their continued attempt to privatise the few remaining services left in Britain.
The Communication Workers Union has responded in threatening postal strikes that would paralyse nationwide deliveries and that it could not stand by and watch 'people in the City and the board make a killing' from privatisation. The latest fire sale of national services reeks again of not improving the service that privatisation apparently brings with it but with the money that the bankers, lawyers, lobbyists and PR firms are set to make.
Bill Hayes, the deputy general secretary of the CWU said that 96% of Royal Mail staff oppose the sell off. Previous strike ballots were backed by more than 90% of members making strike action more and more likely. Strikes would look to cause maximum damage with some staff members striking for consecutive days and it would have to be over pay and conditions as they are not allowed to strike over privatisation.
The minister in charge of the sale, Michael Fallon has said that strike action would achieve nothing claiming that the postal service needed to sold so more public funding can go to schools and the health service. The idea that this would end the governments attempts to sell off the NHS is laughable.
The public will be able to buy shares (at least £750) as can the staff (at least £500) but it is likely that enough of the public would purchase the shares to hold a majority stake meaning that essentially that Royal Mail could fall into foreign ownership as EU law dictates it is illegal to stop an overseas investor.
The inevitable price rises that come with privatisation would effect people in rural areas, the elderly (who continually rely on the postal service) and smaller businesses and while the government says that a 'one price for all' will continue, it is likely that it will be the first thing to be addressed and lobbied for under a new ownership.
Even Thatcher, who sold British Gas, British Airways, British Telecom, National Rail and dozens of other services refused to consider selling off Royal Mail. The Conservatives have gone soft? Don't kid yourself.
Sam
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