Labour Party Conference: Post Office - Unions in secret pact to defeat platform
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE LABOUR leadership is facing its first conference defeats in five years after a pact between unions to concentrate their voting power on twoissues.
Confidential meetings between senior officials have led unions to agree to a concerted attack over Post Office commercialisation and the application of European Union "working time" laws. The big unions yesterday expressed confidence that delegates would back them.
One controversial proposition demands that the Labour manifesto for the next election include a pledge to keep the Post Office under total state ownership. It also urges ministers to drop plans to reduce the corporation's letters monopoly from pounds 1 to 50p.
In another attack on ministers, unions are demanding that the Government stops trying to "water down" the EU working time directive, which limits hours to an average of 48 a week.
In particular, the unions are concerned that up to 8 million white- collar workers may be excluded from the legislation.
The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) and the Manufacturing Science Finance union (MSF) declared their scepticism over assurances on the issue given by Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, at the Trades Union Congress earlier this month.
Bill Morris, general secretary of the TGWU, said that promises to issue guidance accompanying the law were inadequate. Mr Byers said that a code would be issued making clear that only senior executives would be excluded.
Mr Morris said: "We are standing by our legal advice that good intentions are not enough. It will not put the issue beyond any doubt." He also urged the Government to place 200,000 professional drivers within the scope of the new law.
Elsewhere, however, unions agreed to accept a government compromise. The MSF union is expected to drop a motion critical of the part-privatisation of the air traffic control service in favour of a statement from John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister. Civil service unions have expressed concern that commercial influence would undermine safety in the air transport industry.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments