Workers' Liberty

Around 600 postalworkers and other trade unionists took part in a national demonstration called by the Communication Workers’ Union in Stoke on 19 January.

A key factor in trashing the possibility of a united public-sector fightback this year against Gordon Brown’s 2% limit has been the decision by the civil service union PCS, although it already had a live ballot mandate for action, to withdraw into prolonged “consultations” of its membership while the POA and CWU strikes and the Unison health and local government ballots came and went. Having “consulted” and announced that PCS members supported further national strike action, the PCS leadership then... decided to call off any further national action, at least for the time being.

A small group of postal workers met on Sunday 2 December to assess the result of the ballot which has now ended the CWU’s long-running dispute over pay and working practices, and discuss the way forward for militants who opposed the deal. The meeting was organised by the same people who led the “No” campaign under the name “CWU Rank and File”, though unsurprisingly it was considerably smaller than the launch meeting they organised at the start of the ballot.

What is the SWP doing in the trade unions? A key factor in trashing the possibility of a united public-sector fightback this year against Gordon Brown's 2% limit has been the decision by the civil service union PCS, although it already had a live ballot mandate for action, to withdraw into prolonged "consultations" of its membership while the POA and CWU strikes and the Unison health and local government ballots came and went. Having "consulted" and announced that PCS members supported further national strike action, the PCS leadership then... decided to call off any further national action, at least for the time being.

Postal workers have voted 64%-36% to accept the deal negotiated by CWU leaders with Royal Mail bosses on 12 October. The deal gives a small pay rise conditional on a lot of "flexibility", but the vote in favour was predictable after the CWU leadership had called off all action for a month before putting the deal to the vote.

The ballot on whether postal workers will accept the deal brokered between the Communication Workers’ Union and Royal Mail closes on 27 November.

Dave Warren is a member of the Postal Executive of the post and telecom union CWU. He opposed the deal with Royal Mail endorsed by a majority of the Executive on 22 October, and has been campaigning for a no vote in the ballot on the deal which runs between 9 and 27 November. He spoke to Solidarity.

Ballot papers to vote on the Royal Mail deal will go out on 9 November, and the ballot closes on the 27th. Activists from the postal side of the post and telecom union CWU met on Saturday 27 October to plan campaigning for a "no" vote. Download the "vote no" leaflet here.

As we write, the Communication Workers’ Union postworkers' dispute looks set to end with a deal that gives Royal Mail virtually everything they want.

Solidarity spoke to Pete Firmin, branch vice-chair and political officer of London West End Amalgamated CWU

The deal is a crock of shite, to put it as politely as I can. If you look at it, Royal Mail have got just about everything they wanted.

"We, the undersigned, call upon CWU postal branches, CWU representatives, and ordinary CWU members to sponsor, support and attend an Open Special Conference to organise the maximum No vote in the forthcoming ballot.

The final text endorsed by the Postal Executive of the postal workers’ union CWU on 22 October seems to differ from the terms negotiated between CWU leaders Billy Hayes and Dave Ward and Royal Mail bosses on 12 October mainly in added warm words. The core is the same.

The final text endorsed by the CWU Postal Executive on 22 October seems to differ from the terms negotiated between CWU leaders Billy Hayes and Dave Ward and Royal Mail bosses on 12 October mainly in added warm words. The core is the same.

Download the 14 October Postworker bulletin (attachment below), or click on "read more" to read online. It looks like the CWU's Postal Executive has endorsed a deal with Royal Mail.

The postal workers’ four day walk-out on 5-9 October was, once again, approaching 95% solid. More strikes are planned from 15 October, and there can be no doubt that they will be solid too. But will they be enough to win?

The postal workers' dispute faces a sell-out. The trade union movement will suffer a major historic setback unless CWU members take action unofficially, demand an emergency national reps' meeting to call their leadership to account, and mobilise for a "no" vote in the ballot which is due to be called on a deal cooked up on Friday night 12 October.

The CWU has announced further 24 hour postal workers' strikes from Monday 15 October. It will be rolling action, mail centres on Monday/Tuesday, delivery offices on Tuesday/Wednesday, and other sections on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Even in 2005, Tony Blair’s Labour must have seemed to most voters at least marginally less illiberal and less rigidly attached to inequality than the Tory party of the old Thatcher minister Michael Howard.

But what about now?

Royal Mail bosses have denied reports in the Times and the Telegraph that they are about to close their final-salary pension scheme to all workers (not just to new starters) and raise the pension age to 65. Or, rather, they have half-denied it.

GREG Charles is branch secretary of South West London Postal Communication Workers’ Union.

WITH the announcement of new strike dates by the Communication Workers’ Union (all out on 5, 6, 8 and 9 October, with rolling action after that), the Royal Mail bosses have decided to go for broke — for instance by announcing a drastic attack on postal workers' pensions.

Royal Mail bosses have decided to go for broke by slashing postal workers' pensions. The workers are already due to strike over pay on 5-6 October, 8-9 October, and in a rolling programme after that.

CWU postal workers will strike again on 5-6 and 8-9 October in their dispute with Royal Mail over pay and over the bosses' drive to transform the industry radically, with large job cuts, on free-market lines.

CWU postal workers will strike again this month (September) in their dispute with Royal Mail over pay and over the bosses' drive to transform the industry radically, with large job cuts, on free-marke

Trade unionists in Luton are setting up a joint committee to organise solidarity with the postal workers and other disputes now developing.

The strike's suspended but the fight's not over: Workers' Liberty's bulletin can be downloaded here.

Solidarity spoke to Pete Keenlyside, CWU Executive (speaking in a personal capacity).

What impact has the action had so far?
On the industrial front the action of rolling strikes is having a significant effect. Management have had to admit in their own staff briefings that the action is hurting them and are pleading “these strikes can't continue”.

The CWU has announced the suspension of its industrial action against Royal Mail until 4 September, so that it can take part in talks with management. For the joint CWU-Royal Mail statement, see here.

Workers' Liberty's bulletin for the postal strikes beginning on 9 August can be downloaded here. For how to find out who will be striking when, old bulletins and a downloadable petition, click read more.