ROYAL Mail workers will be balloted next week on Government plans to privatise the state-owned postal service.

Members of the eastern branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), based in Stevenage, will have their say on privatisation proposals for Royal Mail from Wednesday.

The Government is yet to decide if the company will be floated on the London Stock Market or a stake in it will be sold to a rival firm.

Steve Butts, area delivery representative for the CWU branch, said: “Across North Herts the CWU will conduct a ballot of our members in Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth and Knebworth on the union policy on how best to deal with the threat of privatisation and the creeping problems caused by unfair competition.

“On privatisation our viewpoint is the debate is not over, the Government may have passed primary legislation, but the general public are now becoming more and more aware of the problems privatisation will bring.

“Many of my members are reporting back that numerous customers are concerned on how this will change the service that is on offer. Rural communities are the most vulnerable, no big business whose ethos is to make money will want to provide a service which is costly to provide.

“Our request to Comet readers is to get involved. A coalition of interested groups have launched a website – www.saveourroyalmail.org – which is aimed at increasing the public pressure to persuade the Government to rethink their plans.”

The CWU members ballot runs until June 18.