‘Why is the CWU still funding a Labour when it attacks us?’

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This article should be read after: » Mandelson, get your filthy hands off Royal Mail
‘Why is the CWU still funding a Labour when it attacks us?’

Anger with New Labour among postal workers has reached record highs since the privatisation announcement.

“I’ve been a Labour supporter all my life and I feel utterly betrayed,” says Peter Hall, branch secretary of the Cleveland branch of the CWU union.

“Everyone at work is talking about privatisation and we all know what it will mean for our pay and jobs – they will be slashed.

“People are scared because Royal Mail is one of the biggest employers in towns like Darlington.

“The jobs in steel and chemicals have already gone, or are going. This week we all got letters asking us if we want to take early retirement or reduced hours. That’s just a sign of Royal Mail preparing to sell us off.

“I worked for British Steel in the 1980s when it was the Tories attacking us.

“Now I have this shuddering thought that we are going back to those times, but this time it is a Labour government that’s doing it – and our union is still paying them!

“The feeling here is that we’ve had enough and we should stop funding Labour’s election campaigns. If that were put to a ballot, as CWU conference decided last year, it would win hands down.”

Last week the Bradford branch of the CWU voted to send a motion to the next national conference calling for complete disaffiliation from Labour if any part of Royal Mail is privatised.

Area delivery sub rep Simon Midgley told Socialist Worker that the decision followed from a 200-strong AGM last month which debated the issue.

“We want the union to carry on having a political voice,” Simon told Socialist Worker. “But we don’t want to carry on funding Labour if it is going to attack us.

“Instead, we’re calling for the union to back only those MPs who are against post privatisation and in favour of the Trade Union Freedom Bill. Why should we carry on paying for the privilege of being attacked by Gordon Brown and Lord Mandelson?”

Keep the Post Public national march and rally organised by the CWU union Midlands region. It is in the constituency of postal affairs minister Pat McFadden.

Saturday 14 March, 11.30am, Guru Nanak Sikh Temple at corner of Greencroft and Arthur St, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14. Speakers include CWU general secretary Billy Hayes, deputy general secretary Dave Ward, Geraldine Smith MP, CWU vice president Jane Loftus and John Grogan MP

The following should be read alongside this article:
» Mandelson, get your filthy hands off Royal Mail
» Post sell-off is attack on jobs and service
» Union fightback: ‘We can strike and beat these plans’

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[Barry Trotter]

Why is the CWU still funding a Labour when it attacks us?’
why are some still paying into the labour party fund after gordon browns comments last year during the strikes. He said 'WE should get back to work as we have been offered a very good deal'. I chose to opt out then as did dozens of others in my wokplace. I also handed out opt out forms to every walk in my building yesterday for a second time,just incase anyone missed out last time.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

Why is the CWU still funding a Labour when it attacks us?’
why are some still paying into the labour party fund after gordon browns comments last year during the strikes. He said 'WE should get back to work as we have been offered a very good deal'. I chose to opt out then as did dozens of others in my wokplace. I also handed out opt out forms to every walk in my building yesterday for a second time,just incase anyone missed out last time.

I haven't paid the political levy for twelve years and the last I heard, none of the members in our office pays it. I was the rep for seven years and actively encouraged people to opt out or in the case of new entrants not to start paying in the first place.
It didn't take much convincing to get people not to pay.

[Geordie]

but it is the political fund that is paying for the current campaign against the labour party.....

there is a difference between funding the labour party and funding our own political fund

[andy2007]

And that's why I still pay it! The problem isn't HAVING the fund. But what the CWU are DOING with it.

We shouldn't be funding ANY Political Party. We should be using the money purely to pay for our own Political campaigns, independantly of any individual Party. But sadly, the majority still seem intent on funding New Labour. Otherwise, we would have been able to stop it some time ago.

[borders]

i personally dont pay the political levy either , but i would not be against donating at a local level for the decent Labour MPs such as Geraldine Smith , come the election or whatever.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

but it is the political fund that is paying for the current campaign against the labour party.....

there is a difference between funding the labour party and funding our own political fund

I absolutely agree with you and if there was a way of paying the political fund without having to donate to an anti-working class political party such as Labour, I would opt back in straight away.