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'Wake up' Mandelson tells union | 'Wake up' Mandelson tells union |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has rejected calls to intervene in the latest postal strikes. | |
Union leaders have accused ministers of "sulking" because their plans to "privatise" Royal Mail had failed. | Union leaders have accused ministers of "sulking" because their plans to "privatise" Royal Mail had failed. |
But Lord Mandelson said the Communication Workers Union should "wake up" to prevent Royal Mail's further decline. | But Lord Mandelson said the Communication Workers Union should "wake up" to prevent Royal Mail's further decline. |
The walkouts in England and Northern Ireland were triggered by a row over modernisation plans. | The walkouts in England and Northern Ireland were triggered by a row over modernisation plans. |
Lord Mandelson said: "Time and again in the past, the CWU has asked ministers to intervene in their disputes and their strikes to frustrate Royal Mail modernisation. | Lord Mandelson said: "Time and again in the past, the CWU has asked ministers to intervene in their disputes and their strikes to frustrate Royal Mail modernisation. |
"I have instructed this will not happen. It is time for the union to wake up to the need for change to stop the Mail's further decline." | "I have instructed this will not happen. It is time for the union to wake up to the need for change to stop the Mail's further decline." |
Members of the union have been staging a series of local 24-hour strikes. | Members of the union have been staging a series of local 24-hour strikes. |
They are due to continue into next week, when the union is planning to ballot its members on holding a national strike. | They are due to continue into next week, when the union is planning to ballot its members on holding a national strike. |
Speaking earlier, the leader of the CWU, Billy Hayes, said ministers "appeared to be on strike themselves". | Speaking earlier, the leader of the CWU, Billy Hayes, said ministers "appeared to be on strike themselves". |
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
Mr Hayes said: "There hasn't been one government minister, at any level, talking about the strikes - which have disrupted services." | Mr Hayes said: "There hasn't been one government minister, at any level, talking about the strikes - which have disrupted services." |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It seems to us that some government ministers are sulking because they haven't yet managed to privatise Royal Mail. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It seems to us that some government ministers are sulking because they haven't yet managed to privatise Royal Mail. |
"This is a company that they own, and they don't seem capable of saying one single word. | "This is a company that they own, and they don't seem capable of saying one single word. |
"Ministers appear to be on strike themselves." | "Ministers appear to be on strike themselves." |
STRIKE LOCATIONS 19 August: Birmingham, Coventry, London, Essex, Peterborough, Bristol, Leeds20 August: Peterborough21 August: Peterborough, Kings Lynn22 August: Boston, Carrickfergus24 August: Skegness, Huntingdon | STRIKE LOCATIONS 19 August: Birmingham, Coventry, London, Essex, Peterborough, Bristol, Leeds20 August: Peterborough21 August: Peterborough, Kings Lynn22 August: Boston, Carrickfergus24 August: Skegness, Huntingdon |
In June, Lord Mandelson, announced that plans to sell off part of Royal Mail had been delayed amid opposition from many Labour backbenchers and the failure to find a suitable buyer. | In June, Lord Mandelson, announced that plans to sell off part of Royal Mail had been delayed amid opposition from many Labour backbenchers and the failure to find a suitable buyer. |
Mr Hayes denied the union was trying to block changes at Royal Mail. | Mr Hayes denied the union was trying to block changes at Royal Mail. |
Modernisation shouldn't mean "reducing services to the public", he said. | |
"Royal Mail is trying to bring in institutional changes without consultation," he added. | "Royal Mail is trying to bring in institutional changes without consultation," he added. |
"There's going to be more strikes, we've got a situation where Royal Mail is cutting people's pay, taking people off duties without agreement." | "There's going to be more strikes, we've got a situation where Royal Mail is cutting people's pay, taking people off duties without agreement." |
Earlier this year, the company warned it was in a "very tight financial position" and had to cut costs. | Earlier this year, the company warned it was in a "very tight financial position" and had to cut costs. |
In 2008, all four parts of Royal Mail were profitable for the first time in almost two decades. | In 2008, all four parts of Royal Mail were profitable for the first time in almost two decades. |
A spokesman for Royal Mail said the strikes were having little effect. | A spokesman for Royal Mail said the strikes were having little effect. |
He said: "Well over 90% of our people - and more than 90% of our operational units - will be working normally this week." | He said: "Well over 90% of our people - and more than 90% of our operational units - will be working normally this week." |
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