‘Today’s positive results are more compelling evidence of why Royal Mail should be kept in the public sector,’ CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward, said yesterday.
He was responding to Royal Mail’s results which showed profits almost doubling for the year 2012-2013, rising from £153 million to £403 million, with revenues rising to £7.63 billion from £7.18 billion.
He was also speaking ahead of a ballot of all Royal Mail workers, which gets underway today, with results due next month.
Ward continued: ‘Improved productivity and modernisation has played a role in these good results.
‘Privatisation isn’t necessary and it would destabilise the workforce and the good progress being made.
‘The support of the workforce is crucial to the success of the company.
‘But overall, today’s results are positive. They show Royal Mail is doing well and that privatisation is not necessary. The company can afford to reward postal workers with a pay rise.’
Unite also spoke out against Royal Mail privatisation, warning the government against ‘selling off the family silver to make a quick buck’.
Accusing the government of ‘short-termism’ the union, which represents over 7,000 Royal Mail managers, warned that the planned autumn sell-off would deny the Treasury a steady stream of revenue over the long-term.
With today’s rise in profits showing Royal Mail can flourish under government ownership, the union urged the government to reconsider its plans, warning that privatisation would lead to rising costs for business and an end of a universal postal service.
The CWU is balloting members in Royal Mail starting today.
Four questions will be asked, including whether postal workers oppose privatisation, whether they would support a private mail boycott in deliveries, and questions on pay and workplace issues. The ballot closes on June 18 with the result due to be announced on June 19.
However, CWU members, as well as Unite members, will be furious that they are not being balloted for strike action to oppose and defeat the planned privatisation of Royal Mail.
