CWU

Communication Workers' Union

Postal workers to strike again

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-market lines. The strike action follows talks which ended without agreement on Sunday 9 September. As we go to press strike dates have not yet been announced but are set to be before the end of September. In the talks the union was offered a better deal on pay —a number of options amount to 6.7% on basic pay over two years with additional lump sums. This includes more money in the first year. However...

Luton trade unionists set up solidarity committee

Trade unionists in Luton are setting up a joint committee to organise solidarity with the postal workers and other disputes now developing. It follows the example of a similar committee in Leeds . The organisers write: "Even though the strikes have been postponed we all share a common interest and a common enemy. Let’s unite to defend our jobs and services". The group is meeting on Wednesday 12 September, 6pm at the Postels Club, Dunstable Rd, Luton. The speakers include John Farnon (CWU) and Charlie McDonald (PCS). More: lutonunionsunite@btinternet.com

The strikes have hurt

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”. Is a rolling programme of partial strikes the right strategy? What would you say to the criticism that it divides the workforce and forces postal workers to cross each others picket lines? In the main, the membership understand and are comfortable...

Postal strikes called off. What now?

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 . The fact that Royal Mail has been forced to the negotiating table is a small victory, and a sign of the impact that the postal workers' industrial action (not just the official action, but also the wildcat strikes in Oxford , Scotland and elsewhere) has had. That is no reason to call off the strikes, however. Much better to negotiate from a position of strength, and for the membership to...

AWL bulletin for postal strikes beginning 9 August

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. For full details of the rolling programme, see the letter from CWU HQ to branches here . For our 23 July bulletin, click here . For our 10 July bulletin, click here . For our 28 June bulletin, click here . For a "Support the postal workers" petition, click here .

South West London Postal Workers Support Group

South West London Postal Workers Support Group Trade Union, community and campaigning activists in South West London are setting up a Postal workers support group to support the CWU’s action locally. First meeting: 7pm Tuesday 14th August Bread and Roses 68 Clapham Manor Street London SW4 6DZ (Clapham common tube or Clapham High Street rail) Join our mailing list by emailing julia@bwtuc.org.uk

Thousands of postal workers on unofficial strike in Scotland and northern England

For our last postal workers' bulletin, see here . The last three days have seen thousands of postal workers across Scotland walk out on unofficial strike in solidarity with victimised colleagues, and the strikes have now apparently spread to a number of cities in northern England. On Monday 30 July, thirteen drivers from the St Rollox mail centre in Glasgow were suspended after they refused to cross an official picket line at Edinburgh Airport. (Airports are one of the functional grades which the CWU has decided to call out separately from sorting offices and delivery staff.) The 20 or so...

Dereham Labour Party motion in support of postal workers

Motion passed by Dereham Labour Party, 1 August 2007 Dereham Labour Party calls on the government to put pressure on Royal Mail management to engage in meaningful and substantive negotiations with CWU, and to commit itself to preserving the postal service as a universal public service. It further calls upon its members to fully support the CWU in whatever way they can, examples of this being: 1. Visiting the picket-line on strike-days 2. Sending messages of support to CWU locally and nationally 3. Collecting signatures on the CWU official petition backing the union's stance 4. Organising...

Building public sector unity and solidarity with the postal workers in Leeds

By Patrick Murphy, Leeds NUT branch secretary A local public sector unity committee was set up in Leeds in June, as a result of contact between myself and John McDermott, the city's Unison Local Government convenor (and a member of the Unison NEC). The idea was to bring activists from as many public sector unions as possible together to co-ordinate opposition to the 2% pay limit announced by Gordon Brown when he was still Chancellor. The initial organising meeting was attended by about a dozen activists from a range of unions including Unison, NUT, PCS, FBU and UCU. Our first major action was...

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