Moray MP Comments on Royal Mail Workers Concerns
Posted on Friday, June 1 2007
Moray Scottish National Party MP Angus Robertson has today [Friday] expressed his concern over deteriorating industrial relations between the Communication Workers Union & Royal Mail.Mr Robertson said:" The escalation of the dispute over terms & conditions of employment between Royal Mail & the Union is clearly concerning." On the one hand any disruption to the mail service with strike action will have an enormous impact on people and businesses throughout the country but equally postal workers have very legitimate concerns about a pay offer that is below inflation coupled with very major changes in conditions. " The root cause of these problems lies with the government's constant cutting of services provided by Royal Mail and their ill-considered drive to allow private enterprise to cherry-pick the most profitable parts of the mail industry leaving Royal Mail to pick up the pieces." Royal Mail delivers one of the best mail services in the world, due to the commitment and pride of their employees and I hope that a way forward can be found. I do not believe it is acceptable for anyone to be offered a below inflation rise which is effectively a pay cut in real terms."
ROBERTSON SLAMS BANKS ON CHARGING
Posted on Friday, June 1 2007
Moray MP Angus Robertson has written to the British Bankers' Association slamming their members, who are the UK's High Street banks, over continuing use of hefty charging regimes despite the growing public backlash against what are illegal charges.The Scottish National Party MP's concerns relate to the high charges levied on customers when accounts go beyond their overdraft limits or payments are refused. Charges, often in excess of £30-£35 are then levied which can then cause a snowball effect of increasing charges running into hundreds and even thousands of pounds.These charges have the biggest effect on less well off families who live on very tight budgets and find themselves in a difficult situation where charges constantly mean they have to be overdrawn to pay for essential items including childrens clothes, heating and even basic foodstuffs.Consumer organisations have been campaigning against the charges which the law states must reflect the actual costs incurred by the banks in maintaining accounts. Experts say that the charges being levied are many times greater than the actual costs incurred by banks.Commenting Moray MP Angus Robertson said:" This situation is completely unacceptable. Despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of consumers have successfully pursued banks for illegal charging we are still being met by a wall of silence from the banks themselves." It is disturbing, given the vast numbers of customers affected, that so little comment has been made by the financial sector on this issue and it is simply wrong that the financial institutions involved are not being pro-active in resolving this matter." In looking through the website of the industry body, the British Bankers' Association, it is very telling that the only comment made this year is to note a report from the OFT." While many customers have successfully claimed back excessive charges many others will not be aware of how they can do this or, indeed, those with literacy and numeracy problems will be substantially less likely to make a claim." Basically those who are in the most difficult financial circumstances are the least likely to be refunded charges."Ends.
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