Royal Mail results - a success for public ownership!

Royal Mail results show success in public ownership

Responding to Royal Mail’s results today (Tuesday) which show profits almost doubling to £403 million for the year 2012-2013, CWU says that modernisation in the public sector should continue.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Today’s positive results are more compelling evidence of why Royal Mail should be kept in the public sector.

 “Improved productivity and modernisation has played a role in these good results. Privatisation isn’t necessary and it would destabilise the workforce and the good progress being made. The support of the workforce is crucial to the success of the company.

 “Price rises have also clearly played a role in the rise in profits. Fattening the goose in the short term may lead to volume decline as customers seek alternatives. One thing’s clear, under privatisation prices would rise further and services would be hit as private companies operate for profit, not for people.

 “But overall today’s results are positive. They show Royal Mail is doing well and that privatisation is not necessary. The company can afford to reward postal workers with a pay rise.”

 CWU is balloting members in Royal Mail starting Wednesday. Four questions will be asked, including whether postal workers oppose privatisation, whether they would support a private mail boycott in deliveries and questions on pay and workplace issues. The ballot closes on June 18 with the result due to be announced on June 19.

For more information please contact:

Sian Jones, Press Officer, tel: 020 8971 7267, mobile: 0779 3314249, e-mail:sbjones@cwu.org