Hands Off The Royal Mail

Support No2EU candidates in the June Euro elections

The Postal Services Bill which, if passed, would see the privatisation of one third of Royal Mail now seems to be in real trouble. But it has not been defeated yet. The Hooper report which was released at the end of 2008 claimed Royal Mail does not make enough profits and that its workers are 20% over-paid compared to others in the industry. The most blatant attack is the so called “strategic partnership” or in real words ‘privatisation’ – where the likes of TNT are waiting in the wings to make a fortune.  

by Gary Clark,  Sub Area Rep Scotland No.2 CWU

But beating the government will take more than a backbench rebellion and public opinion. Particularly as Mandelson is putting his authority on the line in an effort to push the sale through.  The only way we will defeat this attack will be if we are prepared to launch a national campaign and build for a strike by Royal Mail workers. 

There is a section of the national leadership against this because they believe we will lose public support. This is completely wrong. There is huge public opposition to the sell off of Royal Mail.  If we explain that we are in dispute to defend the services then we can keep support of the public. We should be taking to the streets holding stalls against privatisation in every high street leafleting outside football grounds, holding public meetings etc. We then should call a national demo around a national day of industrial action. 

New Labour has not suddenly been convinced of the need of public ownership because they have nationalised some of the banks in order to save their profit system.  It’s clear New Labour is still pro market and pro attacking the working class. We must hold the national leadership to the CWU national policy decision to ballot its membership on disaffiliation to New labour.  

Our union has pumped in millions into New Labour but received nothing in return except attacks on our terms and conditions. But just disaffiliating from New Labour should not be the end. It will lead to the natural question where now? Who will be our political voice?  

All postal workers and our union should be backing the pro worker, anti privatisation campaign for the European elections. We should be getting involved with the No2EU election campaign led by the RMT union which is challenging the big business agenda at the heart of the EU project.  After all it was the European parliament which opened up the postal market to privatisation. This initiative could be an important step towards building a political real voice for workers and trade unionists.  

Vote for the No2EU and vote against the privatisation of Royal Mail.