CWU hails post office card victory

Last month’s decision to keep the Post Office Card Account with the Post Office, rather than tender it out to the private sector (Labour Research September) has been hailed as a “victory for common sense” by the CWU communication workers’ union.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said he was pleased that the government had listened “following months of extensive campaigning and lobbying by our union, the Federation of Sub Postmasters, members of Parliament, customers and all those who care about the Post Office”.

Retaining the account allows 4.3 million people to claim benefits directly through the Post Office network. Loss of the business would have meant the closure of a further 3,000 post offices.

James Purnell, secretary of state at the Department for Work and Pensions, announced the decision last month. “The card account is an important source of income, and brings customers through the doors of Post Offices across the country,” he said. “The Post Office is a trusted brand, and is seen as a safe, secure and reliable provider of services in these turbulent times.”