Protest over post plans

OLDHAM MPs last night urged ministers to rethink plans to part-privatise Royal Mail as hundreds of postal workers protested in Westminster.

Ministers say the company cannot survive as it is and needs to be part-privatised to pay for modernisation.

But the plans to sell off about 30 per cent of the group to a private postal firm — Dutch company TNT is the favourite — is proving to be the biggest revolt of Gordon Brown’s premiership.

Last night, 125 Labour MPs were opposing the plans, including Labour’s Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher and Ashton MP David Heyes.

Another 20 MPs from other political parties are also trying to derail the partial sell-off. It is claimed three Cabinet ministers also oppose the plans.

Mr Heyes said: “It is not the way forward, especially at a time like now. I feel it is an attack on postal workers when bankers are getting away with murder.”

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson signalled that the Government would press ahead with the sale, with a bill expected to be introduced in Parliament tomorrow.

Pat McFadden, the postal affairs minister, said: “With the company facing a huge pension fund deficit and the volume of mail falling year by year, this is urgently needed.” But MPs and unions fear the sale of any stake threatens the universal service that ensures post is delivered everywhere in the UK, for the same price.

The Communication Workers’ Union has threatened to disaffiliate from the Labour party if the part-privatisation goes ahead.


Public meeting set for Saddleworth

Worried Saddleworth villagers and businesses will be able to air their views over plans to change local postal operations at a public meeting.

Chaired by ward councillors Alan Roughley and John McCann, the meeting will be held at Uppermill Civic Hall on Friday, March 6.

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, has been invited to attend along with senior Royal Mail officials and a Cabinet member from Oldham Council.

Meanwhile, finishing touches are being added to a petition which asks for any cuts planned in postal delivery and collection services to be cancelled.

The petition will be available across all Saddleworth villages but with emphasis on Uppermill, Greenfield and Dobcross where, it is claimed in a leaked document, sorting offices could vanish and posties moved to Oldham.

Sources close to the post office say Saddleworth-based staff have seen the document and are up in arms about the proposals. While councillors have described the plan as a recipe for chaos. Councillor Roughley said: “Postal services are very much part of our community — not just a sterile commercial venture.”

The meeting will begin at 8pm.