MEPs meet with UNI to plan opposition to postal liberalisation
UNI Europa Post & Logistics organises a meeting in the European Parliament
9 MEPs form 3 political groups accepted the invitation of UNI Europa Post & Logistics to coordinate the work against postal liberalisation.
UNI Europa Post & Logistics organised a meeting hosted by Dennis De Jong, GUE/NGL to coordinate the joint work in the fight against postal liberalisation. Members of the European Parliament from 3 different political groups (S&D group, The Greens and GUE/NGL) discussed the procedure for the next plenary session 7-9 September in Strasbourg.
In a joint effort they succeeded in putting an oral request to the European Commission on the agenda the 8 September 2010. Supported by Trade Unions, they blame the European Commission for not fulfilling the preconditions for the liberalization of the postal market. The complete request is available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+OQ+O-2010-0039+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
“We are very glad to get such a strong support from the members of the European Parliament”, said Cornelia Berger, UNI Europa Post & Logistics. “And we are even happier that the discussion went also further by looking what we can do together after the plenary session. It all depends on the answer of the Commission but we have already good ideas what we will do next on European level.”
UNI Europa Post & Logistics organises a demonstration the 8 September at 2 pm in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to support the MEPs inside. Further a joint press conference and a debate with postal workers is planed. The request is a joint initiative of the 3 groups in the European Parliament and UNI Europa Post & Logistics is looking forward to the response of Commissioner Michel Barnier.
Also concern was expressed about the proposed new postal regulators group set up by the European Commission without any consultation of the Parliament, the Council or the Trade Unions. Neil Anderson, head of department UNI Post & Logistics said: “This is a big democratic problem for us. It is not the first time the Commission has set up dubious expert groups without legitimisation or democratic control but fully financed with tax money. We hope that the Members of the European Parliament will investigate this and demand some clarification about the meaning, duty, responsibilities and influence of this body.”