Royal Mail results show successful modernisation in public sector, says CWU
13th November 2012
Reacting to Royal Mail's half-year financial
results today (Tuesday) which show revenues, profits and profit
margins all up, the Communication Workers Union says this is proof
that modernisation can be successful within the public sector. The
union, which represents postal workers throughout Royal Mail Group,
also says the results are masking some of the problems in the
industry and calls on the regulator to step in to protect the
universal service.
This is the first set of financial results since the price rises
came into force, and since the Post Office and pension deficit were
removed from Royal Mail Group.
Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary,
said: "These results are proof that positive change and
modernisation can be made in the public sector. There is no need
for privatisation as a solution to business transformation. Change
is being successfully delivered by postal workers daily throughout
the company. Postal workers are Royal Mail's greatest asset and
should be recognised as such.
"Royal Mail is doing its bit to change, but the regulator
must now step in to protect the universal service. Competition from
private companies is undermining Royal Mail's ability to
provide an affordable service to every part of the UK.
"We want a fair day's work for a fair day's pay
bringing quality postal services to everyone. That's being
undermined by the way competition destabilises the universal
service - companies being allowed to cherry-pick profitable
contracts while paying low wages for example. There's also a
problem with pressure that Royal Mail managers are putting on
delivery workers to make unrealistic cost savings. This is causing
mayhem in many offices with staff being pressured to work unpaid
overtime when really the managers have got the workloads wrong.
It's all linked back to the way competition is being
mis-managed.
"There's a bright future for the mail industry as Royal
Mail's results and the growth in packets and parcels show, but
it will only work if the universal service and postal workers are
put at the heart of change. Ofcom's decisions have the
potential to make or break this industry.
"We don't want competition at any cost. Closures, bullying, cost cutting and privatisation will destroy the industry. We'll stand up to protect it."
