Mood grows in Royal Mail to fight against post cuts

[POSTMAN]

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The possibility of a London-wide strike at Royal Mail grew this week after bosses refused to back down from plans to slash jobs at offices around the capital.

"The cuts have not been agreed with the union and therefore break a series of national agreements," says Merlin Reader, a CWU union rep at London's Mount Pleasant mail centre.

"That's why we voted to demand a ballot across the city at the London Division union meeting.

"It's important that we all stand together on this. Otherwise they will pick us off one by one."

There are signs that Royal Mail's cost-cutting agenda is also being pursued in many other parts of Britain. There are reports of ballot requests from areas as far apart as East Anglia, Durham and parts of Scotland.

Many union activists believe that there is a concerted attempt to slash jobs and weaken the union in the run up to the government's proposed privatisation of Royal Mail.

The CWU's London newsletter describes in detail a plan to introduce a Dutch-style postal system in which 84 percent of jobs will become part-time and hundreds of delivery offices will be closed.

TNT runs the Dutch postal service. It is the company tipped to buy a chunk of Royal Mail.

Determined

But there are signs that if the union is prepared to take determined action, it can beat off the bosses, the government and the privateers.

Postal workers in Bristol called off their strike ballot this week after Royal Mail retreated from attempts to implement cuts without union agreement.

However, some within the union worry that any strike action during the run-up to the parliamentary vote on privatisation could lose the union public support.

Others, such as Watford CWU secretary Alan Walsh, disagree. "Opposition to post privatisation is massive," he says. "We've been running stalls in our town centre and each time we are mobbed with support.

"Now we are delivering thousands of postcards in the constituency of our local Labour MP, who has decided not to sign the union's Early Day Motion against the sell-off.

"The idea that public support would drain away if we took action against this is simply not true. The vast majority will understand that we are standing up for jobs and services."

The CWU's postal executive was discussing the ballot requests as Socialist Worker went to press.

The following should be read alongside this article:
» Solidarity for sacked Woolwich postal worker

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[Martin Walsh]

The PEC today provisonally agreed to ballot all 14 000 London Postal workers over Royal Mail`s slash and burn policy. The timetable will be agreed following a meeting of national officers and the London Divisonal Reps. The fight for the future of this industry is just starting. With the likes of Scotland , London and other areas coming on board we can force Royal Mail to talks and then achieve a national agreement which protects full time jobs and terms and conditions in all parts of Royal Mail not just for now but for 10 and 15 years time. The key is to turn of all savings and join the fight.

[borders]

amen to that and good luck Dingo.

[HootyMacBoob]

its great to see our london comrades joining the fight dingo

[baldrick]

Why was I sacked?

I have been dismissed from Royal Mail for leaving my keys in the van,
being five yards away from it and it had NOT been stolen. A manager
got in the van, reported me and I was sacked.

I didn't lose or cost the company a penny. The van was left running as
it was faulty. This was confirmed by the garage at the Royal Mail depot.

Postal worker, Yorkshire.

Letters
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[johnsouthwales]

how long was the van faulty before this happened? was it reported faulty? doesn't say in the site.

[andy2007]

Although I think it was far too harsh to sack him. It was a pretty stupid thing to do. If the van was faulty, he should have switched it off, locked it. And then when it wouldn't start again. Call Vehicle Services out to it. If a Manager had time to get into the van: Anyone else could have done so.

Still: At the moment, they seem to be looking for excuses to get rid of Posties, to save on EVR.

[rogue]

the mood in Anglia is that from monday all offices will be working safely supporting the national position and we can only hope that other divisions support the national campaign

[guvenor]

ayrshire voted for rule 13ballot for industrial action
not one person voted against