Last push for big yes in national ballot

[topgeezer]

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=19154

by Yuri Prasad

The ballot for a national strike at Royal Mail is entering its final phase, and each vote is vital.

Every form marked “yes” to a strike will be a blow to a management that wants to slash jobs, pay and pensions – and prepare the public service for another attempt at privatisation.

They received another blow on Tuesday when 43,000 CWU members struck in many parts of the country – the biggest day of action in the dispute so far.

“Our reps are doing an excellent job of explaining the issues to the members, and telling them to return their forms before the deadline of Thursday 8 October,” says Dave Scott, a CWU union area delivery rep in Suffolk.

“But, to be honest, management are doing a better job. All their attacks, including stopping our members’ pay for allegedly not working hard enough, are backfiring.

“We’ve had gate meetings at all our units and I’m convinced we can win this by a big margin. But it’s important that reps tap into the mood of anger and keep pushing till the last moment.

“The bigger the turnout and yes vote, the harder we will be able to hit them.”

David Wilshire, from Bristol CWU agrees.

“Reps must get face to face with the members,” he told Socialist Worker.

“I would urge all union activists in areas that haven’t seen action yet to use the profile our local strikes have given the union to get out and have another push on the ballot.

“Tell your members, if local strikes can force this vicious management to get back around the table for talks with the union, imagine how they will respond to national action.”


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[janitor]

I think just as important is a high return rate, if a large number of the membership sit on the fence, RM will make a big thing out of that.