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we can win much more get the strikes backon

A
fter calling off strikes for talks that were due to end on 13 November, CWU leaders have now announced an extension of our strike mandate to 27 November. But the details of the deal remain as unclear as they were a week ago. Clearly, CWU leaders have not yet got enough to put a deal to the membership. If strikes had been called this week, we would create pressure on bosses to shift. Instead, our leaders now run the risk of draining momentum at a critical moment, by extending the mandate without calling more strikes, and when details of the deal are still unknown to members. We know from the LTB we received when strikes were first called off that theres been movement on key issues. Royal Mail bosses fear of our strike thats what shifted them to some degree. On legal protections, CWU report an extension beyond the current three year offer. CWU leaders also report theres been an improved pay offer and a seperate pensions agreement. Even the threat of action can force movement. This is progress, but without any detail the significance of it is unclear. Its hard to see how bosses will have offered anything worth suspending strikes for.
Getting out onto picket lines would force Royal Mail to shift further and boost our momentum

Extending mandate again runs risk of draining momentum...

The vote should have given our leaders confidence that members are up for a serious fight over pay, pensions and workload and are enraged by the privatisation on Royal Mail. It would be a massive boost for members to get onto the picket lines together and see our collective strength. We are not fighting alone. Before our action was called off, we were set to strike with firefighters.

Escalation

Arsenal

We should at very least not accept less than what was initially outlined by Dave Ward at the beginning of the dispute. What is clear is that Royal Mail bosses would much rather concede a little now and get the strikes pulled, than allow the strikes to go ahead. Striking is the most effective weapon in our arsenal. Thats why they want to get our union to a point where wed have to re-ballot to strike. Big parcel companies threatened to withdraw Christmas contracts if the dispute wasnt resolved. Royal Mail bosses are under immense pressure. Its crucial to recognise the leverage we have in the busy Christmas period. Theyd have to listen to us if we strike then! CWU should use this to its advantage and strike for more than whats on the table now. Lets not forget our huge strike vote. Despite the Tories move to block CWU, driving through the sell off, members showed they are ready to strike.

When FBU leaders called off a strike planned for 19 October, activists put pressure on them to get the action back on and it worked. Postal workers can do the same and push our union leaders to put our strikes back on and fight for more. The unions have the strength to take the Tories onand members are clearly willing to fight back. We need to begin to build networks of activists to develop pressure for a strategy that can win. Trade unionists shuddered at events at Grangemouth oil refinery. Unite leaders accepted a catastrophic assault when bosses threatened to shut down the plant. Their deal means a three year nostrike agreement, a pay freeze, attacks on pensions and the removal of full time Unite officials from the site.

Grangemouth shows how determined the bosses are to beat us, and what happens when union leaders dont have a plan B. Had the tanker drivers, members of Unite, been called to action, and other Ineos sites been picketed, the bosses would have been stopped in their tracks. Given the political dynamic around the Independence referendum, an occupation of the site would have placed massive pressure on Holyrood and Westminster governments alike, and received widespread solidarity.

Stakes

The Tories and bosses want to tame our unions. But unions are not powerless, they can win if they use all their power. Strong unions are a threat to the bosses raking in profits at workers expense. The lessonthe stakes for workers are high and our union must not blink first. Now its time to show the employers our strength, not to back off at the first offer. Strikes can win more than whats on offer now. What we win will be shaped by the strength of strikes, or by the lack of them. Reps voted to ensure any offer is put to a special conference so members can discuss it. We should all push for CWU to get the strikes back on, escalate to win and link up with others to beat back the Tories.

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