CWU takes mail demo to Cameron’s constituency
6th January 2011
For immediate release
CWU takes mail demo to Cameron's constituency
Trade unionists, student protestors and local residents will demonstrate in David Cameron's constituency this Sunday (9th January) against government cuts and plans to privatise Royal Mail.
Hundreds of protesters are expected at the event in Witney, Oxfordshire, which takes place just three days before the Postal Services Bill receives its third reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday 12th January.
Billy Hayes, Communication Workers Union general secretary, said: "Government cuts are really beginning to draw blood now as jobs and services suffer. The planned privatisation of Royal Mail is an unnecessary ideological move which will damage postal services forever.
"On Sunday hundreds of people, representing thousands of families, small businesses, pensioners, students and workers, will take the message of saving the Royal Mail to the prime minister's constituency. Will he listen? Or will he press ahead with the privatisation of Royal Mail and risk an increase in mail prices, a decrease in services, and mass post office closures?"
Details for the demonstration march and rally:
Assemble: 11.30am Church Green, Witney
March: 12.00 - 12.15 around Witney
Rally: 1.00pm - onwards, Church Green, Witney (speakers)
Speakers: Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary
Dave Ward, CWU Deputy General Secretary
Gavin Shuker, Labour MP for Luton South
Ann Black, Labour Party NEC
Tony Lennon, SERTUC Vice President
Feyzi Ismail, SOAS University Occupation
Gawain Little, Oxford Trades Council & Oxfordshire Anti Cuts Alliance
Music by Asian Drum Band 'Beat Evolution'. Grim Reaper in attendance and a six foot coffin carrying the message: 'here lies the remains of Royal Mail and postal service in the UK'.
The demonstration is supported by organisations including: CWU, RMT, SERTUC, TUC, NUJ, GMB, UCU, SOAS, LRC, PCS, UNISON, NUT, UNITE, The Peoples Charter, Oxford and District Trades Council, Peterborough Trades Council, Right To Work, Chelmsford Trades Council, Green Party.
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For more information please contact:
Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail: sbjones@cwu.org
Kevin Slocombe, Head of Communications, mobile: 07714504413, e-mail: kslocombe@cwu.org
Paul Moffatt, CWU Eastern Regional Secretary, mobile: 07912 945 417, e-mail: easternregion@cwu.org
