Author: arossiter@tuc.org.uk

Royal Mail sell-off is like selling “fivers for four quid”

date: 11 October 2013
embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on this week’s sell-off of Royal Mail shares, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady today (Friday) said:

“Privatising Royal Mail has become little different from selling five pound notes for four quid.

“No one can be blamed for wanting a share of that, but let’s not forget that this has taken something that belonged to all of us and given a large slice away for free to those who could afford an entry ticket.  And everyone knows that in the long run the postal service will get worse, just as other privatised industries have ended up abusing markets and ripping off consumers.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen   T: 020 7467 1248    M: 07778 158175    E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth    T: 020 7467 1372    M: 07717 531150     E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson   T: 020 7467 1337    M: 07900 910624     E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

Press Release

TUC blasts “divisive” call for public sector pay cuts

embargo: 00:01 hours Friday 11 October 2013

Responding to today’s (Friday) report from the Policy Exchange, which calls for the government to abolish national pay bargaining in the public sector, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Cutting pay in those parts of the country sharing least in the much delayed and rather shallow recovery makes no economic sense. It will make the north-south divide even greater. And it will make inequality within regions greater too, as the biggest losers from these proposals will be low-paid staff in the public sector who will suffer big pay cuts as their pay is pushed down towards the minimum wage.

“We should be spreading the living wage in both public and private sectors, not listening to these divisive and unfair proposals from well-off London think tank wonks who never need to worry how to make ends meet each week.”  

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC’s campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen   T: 020 7467 1248    M: 07778 158175    E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth    T: 020 7467 1372    M: 07717 531150     E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter   T: 020 7467 1285    M: 07887 572130     E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk

Press Release