Socialist Appeal - Socialist Appeal interviews Brendon Allen, Communication Workers’ Union Branch Secretary, Worcester

Socialist Appeal interviews Brendon Allen, Communication Workers’ Union Branch Secretary, Worcester

By Andy Fenwick
Thursday, 12 March 2009
“The threat of privatisation is the biggest issue that members are talking about in the canteen- bigger than the April pay award - bigger than Man United win in Europe.” It is with this background that Brendon Allen CWU Branch Secretary Worcester told of how postal workers in Worcester are preparing to go the National CWU Demo in Wolverhampton For post office workers the main threat is to their livelihoods. If privatisation occurs the demand for profit will see terms and conditions slashed, as Brendon explained, “How can they maintain the current service, and get the profit TNT want and keep the six day service? That will go, and with that 30,000 jobs” For all postal workers the main issue is the pension rights. As Brendon puts it, “Worry about pensions is a concern for everyone. Not just the older members close to retirement but the young who do not know what sort of pension they will get, and other terms and conditions will be under threat from privatisation” “The threat of privatisation has come after years of an unstable environment for post office workers, constant cuts and loss of duties but it is not just the postal workers who will suffer under privatisation. The farmer expecting a letter to be delivered up a five mile track can forget it” Brendon clarified what it will mean for rural communities who have already lost their post offices. “They can expect half the service for double the cost”. “What is needed is for the union to talk directly to the government about the future of postal services. We do not need private finance to invest. We are profitable, especially if the government is prepared to underwrite pensions for the TNT, then it should underwrite them for the public service” Members will be prepared to fight to defend their jobs as Brendon states. “We will do whatever we need to do. If we are backed into a corner we will have no alternative but to take action” What is disappointing for Brendon is the lack of support from the Local Labour MP Mike Foster. “A bit of support would be nice after all the help we have given him in the past elections”