Union-Labour Relations Strained by Government Privatisation Plans

Speaking at a Labour Party Joint Policy Commission meeting in the House of Commons between senior trade union and government figures, Billy Hayes said that Royal Mail privatisation plans are a defining moment for union-Labour relations.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: "Privatisation of Royal Mail is a totemic issue for postal unions CWU and Unite.

"The current government plans are a defining moment in the relationship between the unions and the government.

The relationship will be severely strained towards breaking point.

"Coupled with planned job losses and office closures in Royal Mail, the government's actions are placing a huge strain on the unions' relationship with the Labour Party."

The UK postal union last disaffiliated from Labour in 1927 after the general strike and were out of the party for 21 years.

The CWU has an agreed policy to ballot members on disaffiliation should privatisation of Royal Mail take place.

Source: CWU

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