Crown strikers 'wearing down' the bosses

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Londoners witnessed yet another lively city-centre protest by CWU today, as striking Crown staff held a spontaneous march to Westminster after walking out of offices across the city.

Holding up "Protect Your Post Office" placards, the workers won cheers and toots from motorists and passers by as they headed to the Houses of Parliament to meet with MPs and set out their case for fair pay, job security and defence of the Crown Office Network.

"Last week, our fellow CWU members from Royal Mail made London sit up and take notice of the Save our Royal Mail campaign, and now we're showing we're just as determined to win our struggle," said Andy Furey (pictured far left), the union's national officer for Post Office workers.

Today was the eighth day of strike action by the CWU's 4,000 Crown members and, once again, the action was solidly supported right across the country.

"Our members are hard-core and after four months of dispute, the strength of feeling among continues to grow," Andy continued, adding: "Post Office bosses are continually being surprised at how our people have not only stayed the course, but have become more and more solid as this battle of attrition has developed, and we are beginning to wear down the management side.

"I met with the POL chief executive Paula Vennells earlier this week and, although we haven't yet made a breakthrough, they clearly recognise that the only solution here is going to be a negotiated agreement.

"They can't defeat us and they know it."

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Post Office plans to close offices, cut jobs and reduce services cannot go on unchallenged. It's time that government stood up for these highly-valued local services which their constituents are signing petitions for in their tens of thousands. We are calling on Chief Executive Paula Vennells to now lead talks to resolve this.

"Our members are taking a strong stand with this latest eighth round of strike action. Their determination has been unwavering because they know they are right; they are standing up to protect jobs, services and for a fair pay rise. The company is in disarray and clearly out of touch with both its staff and customers. A positive solution can be reached to protect jobs and services if only the company - and perhaps government - will put the effort in."

At the Westminster event, CWU general secretary Billy Hayes strongly criticised the business strategy of the Post Office senior management and pledged again the 100 per cent support of the whole union for the Crown Office members' fight.

"However Post Office management dresses things up, the fact is that there is no way that a service can be simply cut to success. It has to be grown out of subsidy," he explained.

"The national union will do everything it can to support these workers. But we know that there is also great public support.

"If we keep our unity and our campaigning, we will win," he concluded.

Read Billy's speech in full on his blog.

Other speakers included Dave Ward and MPs Alan Johnson (former Home Secretary and previous CWU general secretary), Ian Murray (Shadow Minister BIS) and Katy Clark.

Find out more by visiting Post Office pay and the future of the Crown Office. http://www.cwu.org/pay-and-the-future-o ... ffice.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;