THE Communication Workers Union (CWU) called for immediate intervention after the Post Office announced plans to offload its 108 directly owned branches.

CWU general secretary Dave Ward called the announcement that will put about 1,000 jobs at risk “full privatisation of the Post Office via the back door.”

In 2008, the union’s annual conference agreed that a ballot would be held to cease funds to the party if privatisation of postal services took place.

Mr Ward said: “The Post Office’s claim that these community services will be maintained by their failed franchising model is laughable to anyone who has seen their local Post Office services reduced to the back of a shop. 

“The selloff of WHSmith last week shows just how fragile and ill thought out this model is. 

“The role of the government must also be examined. This is a continuation of the hands-off role played by the Tories — we call on Labour to immediately intervene and examine alternative options.”

Calling it “a major test for this government ahead of introduction of the Employment Rights Bill,” he added: “It is also inevitable that the news today will lead to further scrutiny of our relationship with the Labour Party. 

“Union members will see this as a crucial moment ahead that will truly test the link between Labour and the unions, who created the party.”

The Post Office has undergone a significant overhaul since the impact of the Horizon IT scandal, when hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongfully convicted.

Mr Ward said the announcement “shows they have learned absolutely nothing from the scandal,” calling for the creation of a joint venture between Royal Mail and the Post Office.