Royal Mail’s £3.6bn sale to the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is being held up by a political crisis in Romania caused by claims of Russian meddling. More than two months after the takeover was waved through by the British Government, Mr Kretinsky’s EP Group is still waiting for approval from …
Read More »Ofcom’s “package of reforms”: a wrecking ball against the mail service and postal workers’ jobs and conditions
Communications regulator Ofcom has announced “a package of reforms to the Universal Service Obligation” governing the delivery of mail to 32 million addresses across the UK. Ofcom’s announcement is the foundation for a Royal Mail pilot scheme being rolled out at 37 delivery offices with the full support of the …
Read More »Workers kept in dark at Royal Mail USO pilot sites: “We ask questions… they don’t tell us anything”
One thing is clear from the “USO reform” pilots being rolled out by Royal Mail at 37 delivery offices across the UK: they are being imposed behind workers’ backs in a joint enterprise by the Communication Workers Union, Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group and the Labour government. The Universal Service Obligation …
Read More »Royal Mail sale to Czech billionaire gets national security clearance
Royal Mail’s sale to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has taken another step towards completion, after it got the green light on national security grounds. Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, approved the deal under the National Security and Investment act. The Cabinet Office said it means the …
Read More »UK clears Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky to buy Royal Mail
STORY: The British government approved a multi-billion dollar takeover of the country’s iconic postal service Royal Mail on Monday (Dec 16). EP Group – owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky – has bid $4.5 billion for International Distribution Services – or IDS – which is Royal Mail’s parent. IDS agreed …
Read More »Vince Cable warns against bid by the ‘Czech Sphinx’ for Royal Mail
The Czech Sphinx’s bid for Royal Mail has been condemned as seriously undervaluing the business. Former business secretary Vince Cable has warned the Government not to wave through the sale of the Royal Mail to Czech tycoon Daniel Kretinsky, citing his links to Russia and the high amount of debt …
Read More »Postal workers oppose CWU-Labour government collusion with Kretinsky Royal Mail takeover
The World Socialist Web Site has received emails from postal workers across Royal Mail Group in response to the article, “Communication Workers Union embraces Kretinsky’s takeover of Royal Mail.” CWU leaders Dave Ward and Martin Walsh have for months spun the private talks they have held with billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, …
Read More »Royal Mail bidder under pressure to cap price of stamps
The Czech billionaire bidding to buy Royal Mail is under pressure to cap stamp prices as Labour pushes for tougher concessions on the deal. The Telegraph has learnt that ministers want Daniel Křetínský, known as the “Czech sphinx”, to rule out further increases to first-class stamp prices as part of …
Read More »Royal Mail worker speaks on CWU-Labour government collusion with EP group takeover of Royal Mail: “They are partners in crime”
The World Socialist Web Site had the following conversation with a Royal Mail delivery worker in Scotland who is a member of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC). Their name has been withheld to protect against victimisation. The discussion focussed on the experience of postal workers on the ground and …
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