Disruption
to the post service looks likely after the Communication Workers Union (CWU)
announced that it will demand pay of £500 a week for postal workers, a 66 per
cent increase on present levels.
Dave
Ward, the deputy general secretary of the union, said the amount was a
longer-term aim and would be part of a “manifesto for the Post Office”, which
will be set out in June at the CWU’s conference.
Royal
Mail is considering a plan to sell part of its postal business to its own
employees amid fears of a government push to privatise the industry.
Ward
warned: “We are not going to allow Labour to get to the election without it
spelling out that Royal Mail remains a public service.”
Allan
Leighton, Royal Mail’s chairman, is also planning to borrow money from banks in
an attempt to inject billions of pounds in private funds into the postal
service. Part of this money will go towards a rise in basic pay rate from £300
to £400 a week for delivery and sorting staff.
