Victory to the postal workers
Defend Union rights
Bill Mullins and Philip Stott
In a national ballot, 76% of postal workers have voted to strike. The union has announced two days of strike action next Thursday and Friday the 22nd and 23rd October. This follows on from hundreds of local strikes which continue throughout Britain, from the Isle of Wight to the highlands of Scotland. These strikes are a result of the most sustained attack on postal workers for decades.
This flows from the unsatisfactory outcome of the last national strike in 2007, against management’s imposition of new working arrangements and low pay.
Postal workers now are fighting against the same thing. But with the added twist that Royal Mail management, with the full backing of the Labour government, are out to break the CWU as a fighting union. The leaked document from Royal Mail management make clear that they intend to impose draconian attacks on postal workers and completely bypass the union – effectively trying to destroy union representation in the industry.
In 2007 the strikes ended with a deal where the union allowed the bosses to begin the process of ‘modernisation’. But this gave the bosses the opportunity to impose more and more work on fewer and fewer shoulders.
Quite rightly the union has called a two day strike for next week. This strike deserves the support and backing of all trade unionists, workers and communities across the country.
It would be fatal for the CWU leadership to vacillate at this time. What is required to defeat the bosses is decisive action.
If the union is challenged in the courts, or if Royal Mail bosses move to derecognise the union, then they should defy the law and call upon the whole trade union movement to support the CWU – not only in their fight against the bosses but also the anti-trade union laws.
Mandelson in the Labour cabinet has been encouraging the bosses to smash the union. He was frustrated that his plans for privatisation earlier this year failed.
But what we have now is all the worst aspects of a privatised Royal Mail anyway.
The post bosses want to make the industry attractive to the private profiteers. What stands in their way is the CWU with its layer of activists.
It is not an accident that the management has singled out the activists for attack.
The union leadership has a duty to ensure that, with the backing of the members, they take the fight to the employer. The CWU should call for maximum unity of all unions against the government proposed cuts in jobs and pay in the public sector.
- For a series of strikes leading up to Christmas and beyond if necessary.
- No more “modernisation deals” – end the attacks once and for all.
- Defend all jobs.
- No to increased workloads.
- Defend the union, defend the reps.
- Bring back all previously privatised work.
- For a united fight across all public-sector trade unions.
