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As bosses and government go on the attack ...
postal workers
need full support
T
he stakes could not be
higher, and postal workers are
absolutely right to strike this
week. Royal Mail bosses and the
government are using every weapon
they have against the public service
and the workforce.
Documents leaked last week show that
Royal Mail bosses have a clear plan to
smash the power of the CWU.
Royal Mail is employing 30,000
temps to reduce the backlog.
The Association of Chief Police
Officers said that it was closely
monitoring the situation and had issued
guidance to forces on dealing with
large-scale strike action.
Bosses hope to inflict a defeat that
will change the industry for ever. And
disgracefully the Labour government
backs them all the way.
What a scandal that Lord Mandelson
and Co are mobilising such efforts in
order to attack basic trade unionism.
Victory possible
The Labour Cabinet want to use the
postal workers as an example to the
whole working class of the need for
sacrifice and the impossibility of serious
resistance.
For our side this should be a spur to
intense action, a call for everyone to
support the postal workers.
Postal workers can win—so long
as they stand firm themselves and get
support from the wider forces inside the
No cash for Labour!
How much more evidence does anyone
need that Labour is on the wrong side
in this dispute—and on so many other
issues? Why do the unions continue to
shovel money into the coffers of a party
which is plotting the downfall of the CWU!
Instead of fattening Labour, the
unions should use their money for their
own campaigns and get involved in
discussions with unions such as the RMT
and the PCS about a left alternative to
Labour.
working class. There is massive public
support for a fightback to defend the
public service, resist job losses, halt bosses’ plan
union-busting and to hit back at the
millionaires at the top of the industry. is revealed
It is part of a much bigger war—over For the full document, get your copy
public services, jobs, union rights, of this week’s Socialist Worker
and pay and conditions at work. It’s The documents leaked last week
about who will be made to pay for the detail Royal Mail’s assault:
economic crisis. The industry will be run on the
A victory for the postal workers bosses’ terms and the CWU will not
would show everyone that resistance is be allowed to get in the way. RM
possible and that workers can win. say they will deliver “the necessary
2009 changes with or without union
Show your support agreement,” and that “Putting
Join picket lines this week—Thursday transformation on hold because of
the mail centres are on strike, Friday non-agreement in not an option”.
the delivery offices are out. If the CWU blocks cuts, job losses
Collect money for the postal and new work patterns then RM will
workers. Ask your Socialist Worker “consider programme of reducing
seller for a collection sheet, and send relationship with union.”
money to: CWU National Hardship Throughout the dispute “Any non-
agreement…must mean the union
Fund: c/o Tony Kearns, CWU, 150 The lose.” If union reps resist then “serve
Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1RX. notice on current IR framework and
Cheque payable to ‘Postal Workers facilities/release agreement and
Support Fund’. substitute legal minimum.”
You can pay the money in directly They may want to replace the CWU
to Unity Trust Bank account no: because “actively down-dialling
20194129, branch sort code: 08 60 the role of the union is likely to
01. For the London CWU hardship succeed only if alternative forums
fund, pay to account 20232065, sort for employee voice are available.”
code 08 60 01. Management has ministers
Build support groups. They have support and have “positioned
been set up in many areas. For details things in such a way as there is
of one near you ring 020 7819 1175. shareholder [government], customer
Demand the TUC and other trade and internal support for change
unions organise massive fundraising without agreement”.
and full solidarity.
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