Postal Strike called for June 10th

An estimated 5,000 postal workers flooded the streets of Madrid today in a protest against the planned privatisation of Spain’s postal service and have called for a general strike in June if the Ministry of Public works refuses to enter negociations.

A number of Spain’s trade unions, representing 75% of all postal workers, accused the Government of slashing their budgets by 43% and attempting to reduce the 67,000 strong workforce by 3,000 in a unilateral decision.

The Unions are demanding that the Government introduce a new 'Postal Law' which they hope would consoldate the existing post offices into a public company capable of competing with private enterprise ahead of the planned privatisation of the service at the beginning of 2011.

The postal service is the oldest and biggest public company in Spain, but it also carries debts of some 150 million euros, and union leaders agree that as things stand, and without the immediate implementation of an emergency action plan, they will not be able to compete with private businesses.

A further protest will be held on April 29th, which will coincide with the European Postal Conference which is taking place in Valencia at the same time and which ministers from all 27 EU countries are expected to attend.

If the hoped-for negotiations do not go ahead the strike has been planned for June 10th.