CWU Demo and Meeting RE CMA

[Geezer]

Dear Dave,

Thought you might like to see a report from the activities in London last Thursday.

Bob Archer

Press and Website Officer,

National Shop Stewards Network





Some 300 postal workers from around the country and Scotland took up an invitation from London Division CWU to visit the Unite the Union HQ in Theobalds Road, London, to complain about the activities of Royal Mail managers who are doing the work of striking postal workers and also – according to reports – behaving very provocatively towards CWU members.

The managers’ association, CMA, became part of Unite the Union through a union amalgamation. The re-working of a current film poster (see picture below) expresses the CWU members’ feeling on the matter.

Derek Simpson came down to discuss with leaders of the London division. Afterwards the postal workers marched off to Friends Meeting House, Euston Road , for a meeting.

The meeting started with appeals for support from guest speakers representing the Gate Gourmet workers still fighting for their jobs back and for recognition that their union had failed to back them up in their dispute. There was also a representative of the striking lecturers at Tower Hamlets College .

Martin Walsh ( London division) told the meeting that this was the tenth day of strike action."At the moment, this dispute has lacked leadership at national level", he said. Later he added: "I've got to say it's about time we ballot our membership about whether to bung the Labour Party at the next election. The Labour government has divorced from us every single time, but we haven't divorced from them. Why are we still with the Labour government? Over the next two weeks the London membership will have the chance to vote in a consultative ballot on that. The result should be out just before the Labour Party conference."

Chris Webb (SW and South Wales) strongly defended the decision to take up the activities of the CMS with Unite the Union . He continued: "There is great leadership in the divisions, but the leadership is not united at HQ. It's a disgrace".

Dennis King (Anglia) reminded the audience it was not just a London dispute: "We in Anglia are in it and we're in it to win. This dispute is about whether you want a trade union influence in the workplace or not.

General Secretary Billy Hayes said in defence of the union headquarters: "If someone has failed to back the dispute, I'd like to know. Put up or shut up. I don't like tittle-tattle. The problems in this dispute come from Royal Mail and the government backing them". He said he would be raising the question of postal workers' pensions at the Labour Party conference and, on the question of Unite the Union , reminded members that Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson had backed the CWU at every turn on the campaign against partial privatisation.

(Scroll down for pictures of the gathering outside Unite HQ)

[POSTMAN]

General Secretary Billy Hayes said in defence of the union headquarters: "If someone has failed to back the dispute, I'd like to know. Put up or shut up. I don't like tittle-tattle. The problems in this dispute come from Royal Mail and the government backing them". He said he would be raising the question of postal workers' pensions at the Labour Party conference and, on the question of Unite the Union , reminded members that Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson had backed the CWU at every turn on the campaign against partial privatisation.

Is he on our planet!