Caroline Lucas MEP

Caroline Lucas, Green Party candidate for Brighton Pavilion, today promised to "lobby at every level" in order to support striking postal workers and accused the Government of effectively "dismantling" Royal Mail with its ongoing programme of privatisation.

In a letter to the CWU (Communication Workers Union) Dr Lucas, who is
also leader of the Green Party, accused the Government of "ill-serving" workers
and the UK public alike. She also criticised the Government for its "shameful
privatisation of public services" which has led to "increased marginalisation and inequalities in terms of public access to services".

Several Brighton and Hove Green Councillors will be joining the picket line in central Brighton tomorrow.

In the letter to CWU Secretary, Caroline Lucas says:
"In our view, Royal Mail workers and management have been on a collision course since the private sector has been forced on the service. By removing profitable parts of the business for the benefit of speculators and investors, the Government has created an environment in which the interests of the population of the UK as a whole have been ill-served, none more so than your members. It is shameful that a Labour Government should have played such a role in the privatisation of public services, and in a way which has increased marginalisation and inequalities in terms of access to services.

"It is especially concerning that this Labour Government is not content with overseeing the dismantling of this vital service, but now appears to be colluding with Royal Mail management to undermine the rights of the Union and its representatives, and condoning the side-lining of the CWU in working towards the completion of the agreement from the last period of industrial action."

"We hope that any action is swift and positive in its results. As we did two years ago, we will lobby at every level to support the CWU cause."

For more information about the Greens view: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk