La Poste plans partial privatisation in 2009-union

PARIS, July 8 (Reuters) - France's postal service has told unions up to 20 percent will be sold off in a partial privatisation, a union leader said on Tuesday.

The move is aimed at preparing La Poste for the opening up to competition of west European markets in 2011.

The French government and La Poste have said partial privatisation was being considered but have declined to comment on details.

"In 2009, there will be a change in status with an opening up of capital of between 10-20 percent," Colette Duynslaeger, head of the CGT-FAPT union said on Tuesday after meeting La Poste Chief Executive Jean-Paul Bailly.

The French post office is one of the country's largest employers with 280,000 staff, of whom more than half are civil servants.

"He (Bailly) has confirmed our fears," Duynslaeger said, expressing concern about potential job cuts.

The meeting with unions came as the French daily Les Echos reported on Tuesday that La Poste's banking unit was planning to start offering consumer credit from the end of next year in partnership with Societe Generale (SOGN.PA).

SocGen and La Banque Postale, the banking unit, both declined to comment.