www.socialistworker.co.
uk
We can beat Royal Mail bosses and Mandelson...
no delay—start
national action
w
hen the result of the
national strike ballot is
announced this week it must
be the signal for immediate and
hard-hitting national strike action.
Any delay is dangerous.
The government and management
are on an all-out attack. They are not
seeking a negotiated deal—they want
blood.
Every concession has to be forced
from them, and that means talk of
further time for talks or a pause in the
strikes is fatal.
Management have organised a big
scabbing operation in an effort to clear
the backlog of post and to weaken the
union in advance of a national strike.
Managers have been shipped into
London from as far away as Belfast.
Treated like heroes by their
fellow bosses, they are given cakes,
sandwiches and drinks while ordinary
postal workers get the usual bullying
and intimidation. This follows the news
that scab centres have been set up in
Dartford and elsewhere.
If, as we have fought hard for, there
is a yes vote in the ballot then we need
real action that can stretch the bosses to
breaking point.
Sustained action, not one-day action
makes it impossible for the bosses to
cover the job or to get in enough agency
workers and casuals.
The best strike would be all-out and
indefinite. It would force the issue to a
conclusion quickly. At the very least we
need accelerating strikes.
We have many allies
The truth is that postal workers are
potentially in a very strong position.
We have never before gone into a
strike with a backlog in the system. This
makes us stronger.
Traffic volumes make this a good time
of year to strike.
Other trade unionists and the wider
public can be won to support postal
workers if we explain the fight is for
public services, jobs, union rights, pay
and conditions.
 A massive backlog of bitterness has June, that many reps and activists
built up among the workforce. As long as are nervous of picketing out the scab
it is used to keep up the momentum then centres for fear of reprisals.
it will be a powerful force. The union But we cannot allow this to stop us
must not let the members down. from closing down their scab operation.
If regions decided to mass picket
A mass response the centres then management would be
We need every weapon in our arsenal forced on to the back foot.
to beat Royal Mail, and that includes Regions could organise a solidarity
preventing them from having a free hand day outside the centres inviting other
to set up a scabbing operation. trade unionists to join postal workers
It is understandable given the amount and their families in solidarity.
of bullying, particularly in those areas
that have taken the most action since We can win
The postal workers’ fight is crucial for
every worker, student, pensioner and
We want our unemployed person in Britain.
It is a crucial early battle in a much
money back! bigger war—the war over public
services, jobs, cuts, union rights, pay
Postal workers in London have
voted by a massive 96 percent to
and conditions at work. It’s about who
pays for the continuing economic crisis.
suspend funding to the Labour
Party. A victory for the postal workers
would show everyone else that
That result is a wholly justified
response to Labour’s attack on resistance is possible and can win.
Pampered politicians, both Labour and
workers in general and postal
workers in particular. Tory, are bidding to see who can force
Unfortunately the vote is us to work the longest before claiming a
only consultative and will not measly state pension, and who can slash
immediately stop the cash. the most from public spending.
Every area should follow Postal workers must not be left on
London’s lead and organise such their own to face the bosses and the
a vote to increase the pressure on politicians that stand behind them on
government ministers, and on the their own. Postal workers’ enemies in
union’s leaders to call a national management, government and the media
ballot to suspend the money to will unite in an effort to crush us. Our
Labour.
side must unite to win.
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Post 06/10/09
Return to SW industrial dept PO Box 42184, London Circulation 020 7819 1171
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