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Hundreds of postal workers demonstrate against postal liberalisation

Published: 15 April 2010
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 Hundreds of postal workers demonstrate against postal liberalisation



Trade Unionists and postal workers from all over Europe demonstrated on Wednesday, the 14th of April in Brussels against postal liberalisation



The demonstration was the highlight of the UNI europa Post & Logistics lobby week against the full opening of the postal market which is planned to take place at the end of this year. During the week members of European postal trade unions and postal workers met Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, consumer groups and other interested groups to report about their experiences with postal liberalisation and the consequences for workers and citizens. These experiences do not give the workers any confiidence that liberalisation of the postal market will be other than a disaster, so UNI europa Post & Logistics is seeking support for a moratorium on the liberalisation until acceptable conditions can be met for the proposed changes.



On Wednesday, around 1000 persons met in front of the European Parliament. Their demands centred around the proposed Moratorium on the full market opening until social regulation is guaranteed and a way is found to finance the universal services. Several members of the European Parliament and other European groups and institutions joined with them on the demonstration. On their banners the demonstrators slogans made demands to save the public post and asked for more time to ensure the European Commission met demands for proper regulation and to meet the demands of the European Parliament for a guarantee of a universal service and no social dumping. The Dutch delegation passed giant postcards signed by postal workers and consumers to UNI to be presented to the members of the European Parliament to “Save the postmen”.



In their speeches at the end of the manifestation Evelyn Regner and Jutta Steinruck, MEPs of the S&D group and Belgium MEP, Marc Tarabella, emphasised their support for the demands of the postal workers and promised to help in the European Parliament to influence the European Commission and push them to draft a new law for the moratorium of the postal liberalisation.



Matei Radu Bratianu, president of the Romanian Postal Trade Union representing the biggest group in the demonstration (100 postal workers had made the journey from Roumania to protest) stressed the importance of international solidarity: Even if Roumania has time until the end of 2012 for the total liberalisation, it is important to show now solidarity and help the colleagues who have to open their markets by the end of the year. Neil Anderson, Head of Department of UNI Post & Logistics made it clear that postal workers can’t rely on the support of the European Commission DG Market, but have to fight by themselves and try to get support from the citizens and political groups all over Europe to achieve their demands.



he said it was important that the postal Trade Unions, members of UNI europa Post & Logistics made a strong and loud sign this day. "We demand a moratorium on the liberalisation of postal services until the social consequences are researched, the social conditions in the whole postal market are secure, the financing of universal services is guaranteed and a way is found to compete on quality and innovation in the market."