Engine Group lands postal sale brief

royal mail vanThe Government is forging ahead with the privatisation of Royal Mail following the appointment of Engine Group to handle marketing for the sell-off, just four days after the agency pitched for the business.
The move follows a warning issued by union bosses late last week in which they said they will “stop at nothing” to protect postal workers’ jobs, amid plans to hold a national strike ballot to oppose the sell-off.
Engine, which includes Partners Andrews Aldridge as well as data specialist Fuel, won the contract in a competitive pitch against three unnamed agencies.
It has been briefed to work on the retail campaign to encourage members of the public to buy shares, although it is thought the budget will be limited.
Last month, the Department for Business Innovation & Skills ruled out any repetition of the Eighties’ “Tell Sid” campaign for British Gas. Devised by Y&R, the strategy was backed by millions of pounds in TV and DM spend.
The appointment of Engine is the final piece of the jigsaw for the sell-off, which is expected to raise up to £3bn for the Government. Seven investment banks, including Investec, Nomura, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays and Goldman Sachs, have already been hired, while Citygate Dewe Rogerson has been recruited to mount a PR offensive.
However, last week, 500 Communications Workers Union bosses voted to hold the first ballot for a national strike at Royal Mail since September 2009. The CWU said the ballot will take place no later than next month, and, if successful, most observers believe it will seriously damage the prospects of the sale.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: “The current situation cannot go on. Postal workers are being squeezed in their workplaces, facing an uncertain future and changes to their pensions. There hasn’t yet been a pay rise for staff this year despite healthy company profits of £403m. But most importantly, we want protections for job security and terms and conditions and these are sadly lacking.”
“We do not take the decision to hold a strike ballot lightly. However, we will stop at nothing to ensure the future of our members’ jobs – and of the services they deliver – are protected,” said Ward.

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1 Comment on "Engine Group lands postal sale brief"

  1. Royal Mail appoints agency for sell-off but union bosses step up fight http://t.co/i3mTtmDR0Y #directmarketing #datamarketing #directmail

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