Now managers reject postal sale

Royal Mail managers have joined the rank and file in voting overwhelmingly against Government plans to privatise the postal operator in an estimated £3bn sell-off.
The Unite union said its members – who work in branches, mail centres and other offices – have voted by 71% against the sale.
Earlier this month, the Communications Workers Union 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.
In a separate ballot of managers in Royal Mail and the Post Office, proposals on pensions were also heavily rejected.
Unite claimed the pension proposals could see the annual pension cut by £3,788 for a Royal Mail manager retiring at 65 after 35 years’ service, from £23,099 to £19,311.
Managers voted by 89% to reject proposals which Unite said could mean an employee on £15,000 a year seeing their pension reduced by £544, from £9,143 to £8,599.
Unite officer Brian Scott said the turnouts in both ballots were good, reflecting “strong opposition” to privatisation and the pension proposals.
He added: “Unite has a long-standing policy of opposition to the privatisation of Royal Mail, which is backed up by the public who don’t want a national institution sold off to companies more interested in profits than providing a joined-up national service.”

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