News

The Communication Workers Union welcomed the amendments to the Postal Services Bill published by UK government department BIS. The union has been campaigning to protect the universal service obligation (USO) and the future of post offices and the amendments to the Bill go some way to reflecting those aims. The union has been in dialogue with BIS Ministers and has briefed MPs and Lords on these issues consistently over recent months. In acknowledging that the amendments go some way to support both the USO and the future of post offices, the union is clear that more needs to be done.



Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: "We warmly welcome these amendments from the Minister to the Postal Services Bill. We have been campaigning hard to safeguard the UK 's universal postal service and to secure both mails services and the post office network. We are pleased that the Government has taken on board some of our concerns and we will continue to campaign and have dialogue with government to strengthen the Bill in other areas including more necessary work on regulations.



"The amendments on the universal service and the commercial relationship between Royal Mail and the Post Office have been key campaign aims for the union and we are delighted the Government has listened. We are looking for a clearer commitment to an inter-business agreement between Royal Mail and the Post Office, but this is a good step towards that aim."



Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary (postal) said: "The union recognises these amendments as welcome and important developments. They have been achieved as a direct result of our campaign and ongoing dialogue with the Government. However, we also acknowledge that on regulation, there remains a lot of work to do in order to achieve a genuinely level playing field."



The CWU has consistently raised concerns about unfair regulations and the adverse impact on Royal Mail's finances.



"There has been a definite shift toward fairness, but it remains the case that the historical damage cannot be reversed and that regulatory powers are still open to interpretation. The union will continue to focus on the importance of fair regulation now and in the future," Dave Ward added.





The CWU has campaigned against the sale of Royal Mail but has specifically campaigned around the need for fairer regulations, an inter-business agreement between Royal Mail and Post Office Limited and a long-term sustainable protection of the USO. In recent months, the union has met many coalition MPs and Lords. Further amendments are tabled in the House of Lords. An Early Day Motion tabled in the House of Commons on safeguarding the USO has received 162 signatures including 47 coalition MPs.



The report stage in the House of Lords is set for May 4^th.



For more information see the CWU web page at;

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/cwu-welcomes-amendments-to-postal-services-bill.html