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Unite: Government selling off Royal Mail to pay for economic failure

Unite: Government selling off Royal Mail to pay for economic failure

Britain’s largest union, Unite accused the government today of selling off the Queen’s head to pay for George Osborne’s economic failure.

The union which represents over 7,000 Royal Mail managers, warned that the government was selling off Royal Mail on the cheap and that it could lead to rising costs for business and an end to the universal postal service.

Unite also expressed fears over the future of the Royal Mail pension scheme as the company seeks to drive through changes ahead of the proposed sale which could lead to cuts in pension payouts.

Commenting, Unite national officer Ian Tonks said: “The Royal Mail sell-off is nothing short of daylight robbery. The government is doing what even Margaret Thatcher didn’t dare and selling off the Queen’s head to pay for George Osborne’s economic failure.

“Claims that privatisation is the only way the business can access private capital are bogus. This move is bad for business and bad for customers and could lead to rising prices and an end to the universal postal service which so many communities rely on.

“The move also spells a future of uncertainty for hardworking staff who have made Royal Mail the success it is today. It is no coincidence that company is putting forward proposals to cut pensions ahead of the sell-off. Any cuts to the pension scheme to fatten the company up for privatisation will not be tolerated by Unite or our members.

“The government need to ditch its sell-off and recognise that the Queen’s head should not be for sale”

ENDS

For further information contact Alex Flynn, Unite head of media and campaigns on 020 3371 2066 or 07967 665 869.

Notes to editors

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.