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The Conservative UK government announced yesterday that it will move forward with previously-announced plans to do away with the public's remaining 1% share of the Royal Mail. The UK delivery network, which celebrates its 500th anniversary this year, was first part-privatised in 2013, when the Government controversially floated a 60% stake on public markets. Since then, it has sold off the public's remaining stake in the company and will return the remaining 1% to Royal Mail staff in the coming weeks.

The Communication Workers Union has railed against the privatisation, and warned members of the pressure on pay, terms and conditions that will inevitably come. CWU Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger penned an article in the Huffington Post where he called the privatisation a product of "empty ideological brain washed minds."

The completion of the privatisation comes at a time when further cuts to Post Office Ltd., the UK's retail network, have recently been announced as well. 

The CWU has promised members it will continue to fight for decent working conditions and good pay, regardless of the ownership structure of their employers. The union is preparing for a new round of pay negotiations in the Royal Mail in the coming months.