Oxford Mail Centre ... Walked Out ( Monday 16th July)

strangler · Post by **strangler** » 17 Jul 2007, 18:40

How very dare you!

Good job I`m not easily offended. The simple reason I`m not a member of those organisations, despite whatever you think, is I don`t agree with them.

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 17 Jul 2007, 18:41

strangler wrote:How very dare you! Good job I`m not easily offended. The simple reason I`m not a member of those organisations, despite whatever you think, is I don`t agree with them.

Oh right!

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » 17 Jul 2007, 19:19

The walk outs in 2003 were inevitable once the RM managers revealed their true face and the petty spitefull vendettas started.

RM could have virtually destroyed this union if they had the sense to control their managers,thankfully they didn't and enough members had the balls to show the bastards that we weren't a busted flush.

It was a classic case of the rank and file taking control of the union and showing union hq how to win a fight.

There was a leaflet being distributed at the time which I've spent ages looking for and finally found it.

POSTAL WORKERS' GUIDE TO ACTION, NOW AND IN FUTURE http://www.ainfos.ca/03/nov/ainfos00040.html

Spartacus neither endorses or dismisses the message within

DirtyHarry · Post by **DirtyHarry** » 17 Jul 2007, 19:49

A strike's a strike , official or unofficial. The widespread unofficial action taken in 2003, put paid to the dimwits ,
Leighton & Dozier's plans to put us all on inferior contracts. Our office walked out , and stayed out , for 11 consecutive
days because our then DUM said we couldn't enter the building until we'd signed our current terms and conditions away to
oblivion. The then trade and industry secretary of state, Patricia Hewitt , reigned in Leighton and Dozier and we walked back
in on our unchanged contracts. A victory for us, the common working man , and a defeat for the two jackasses , Leighton
and Dozier.

I'd do it again.

:lfo :cfo :lfo :cfo

539 · Post by **539** » 17 Jul 2007, 19:58

My members and I were out in 2003 and im extremely proud to have taken part in it we did 11 days as well and saved this union. Im afraid to say that if we had not had that action, we would not even be talking about industrial action official or unofficial now.

Post by **Carnoustie** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:04

Spartacus wrote:The walk outs in 2003 were inevitable once the RM managers revealed their true face and the petty spitefull vendettas started.

RM could have virtually destroyed this union if they had the sense to control their managers,thankfully they didn't and enough members had the balls to show the bastards that we weren't a busted flush.

It was a classic case of the rank and file taking control of the union and showing union hq how to win a fight.

Or was it in fact a case of some CWU hotheads who didn't get the Yes vote they were expecting imposing the will of the minority on the less militant majority, and orchestrating a strike by the back door that split the membership and went against all the democratic principles that trade unionists are supposed to cherish ? Not abiding by the outcome of a democratic ballot because that outcome is not in line with how you personally voted is bang out of order. If you say it is wrong for people to cross a picket line in today's dispute (when 77% voted for strike action) yet applaud people who defied the outcome of a democratic ballot three years ago, then you throw the union and everything we are supposed to stand for into disrepute and the credibility of your argument is shot to pieces.

Unofficial action this time around would play straight into RM's hands and would sound the death-knell for the CWU.
We have to be smarter than that and escalate the dispute by entirely legal means, carrying EVERYBODY with us. I know people in my office who, like myself, are 100% solid behind official strikes who will most definitely not support unofficial strikes. Given RM's current total intransigence, members could be out out for weeks on end, only to have to come back with all the strings we're fighting against imposed on us as a condition of the return-to-work agreement. Exhorting people to go unofficial would be like telling turkeys to vote for that nice Bernard Matthews chappie

DirtyHarry · Post by **DirtyHarry** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:20

539 wrote:My members and I were out in 2003 and im extremely proud to have taken part in it we did 11 days as well and saved this union. Im afraid to say that if we had not had that action, we would not even be talking about industrial action official or unofficial now.

Yes mate , it had to be done , no two ways about it. Like ourselves , you must have been one of the first out , and
the last back. My regards to you and your members, 539.

539 · Post by **539** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:22

And the same to you and yours sir

yorkie · Post by **yorkie** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:07

SPOT ON 539 .
THANKS FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR
MEMBERS DID BACK THEN

Post by **Jonboy** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:14

strangler wrote:New contracts? You`ll be lucky to get any contracts if Leighton & co get their way.
Easy way for them to lose 40,000 people if this unofficial spreads.
Anyway, I thought union reps were allowed to picket other offices??

Rep's can attend other offices regarding Welfare

:cfo :lfo

strangler · Post by **strangler** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:16

hertfordshirehog wrote:
Spartacus wrote:The walk outs in 2003 were inevitable once the RM managers revealed their true face and the petty spitefull vendettas started.

RM could have virtually destroyed this union if they had the sense to control their managers,thankfully they didn't and enough members had the balls to show the bastards that we weren't a busted flush.

It was a classic case of the rank and file taking control of the union and showing union hq how to win a fight.
Or was it in fact a case of some CWU hotheads who didn't get the Yes vote they were expecting imposing the will of the minority on the less militant majority, and orchestrating a strike by the back door that split the membership and went against all the democratic principles that trade unionists are supposed to cherish ? Not abiding by the outcome of a democratic ballot because that outcome is not in line with how you personally voted is bang out of order. If you say it is wrong for people to cross a picket line in today's dispute (when 77% voted for strike action) yet applaud people who defied the outcome of a democratic ballot three years ago, then you throw the union and everything we are supposed to stand for into disrepute and the credibility of your argument is shot to pieces.

Unofficial action this time around would play straight into RM's hands and would sound the death-knell for the CWU.
We have to be smarter than that and escalate the dispute by entirely legal means, carrying EVERYBODY with us. I know people in my office who, like myself, are 100% solid behind official strikes who will most definitely not support unofficial strikes. Given RM's current total intransigence, members could be out out for weeks on end, only to have to come back with all the strings we're fighting against imposed on us as a condition of the return-to-work agreement. Exhorting people to go unofficial would be like telling turkeys to vote for that nice Bernard Matthews chappie

Sounds like they could be going for the staged strikes with delivery, rdc, mail centres out on separate days. Good thinking.

oxon · Post by **oxon** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:37

This is how local newspaper Oxford Mail says :

Wildcat post strike to continue
Millions of items of post will be left undelivered for days as 500 Royal Mail workers in Oxford continue with an unofficial strike.

The employees at the sorting depot in Cowley are involved in a dispute which began on Monday afternoon when post worker Steven Gill was suspended.

Strikers said Mr Gill, who has worked at the depot for 10 years, was suspended without reason.

Mr Gill was not available for comment.

In a statement, Royal Mail said a second worker had also been suspended.

A meeting on Monday between Communication Workers' Union representative Bob Cullen and Royal Mail management ended in stalemate.

Mr Cullen said: "The action of management is very antagonistic and it was primed to get a reaction. They knew exactly what would happen if they did this.

"They have suspended one, possibly two, people and not even laid a charge against them. If they wanted to stop it, they could stop it in 10 minutes. All we want is the two people reinstated."

Each day a million items of post are sorted at Cowley. Today, managers in shirts and ties were seen driving Royal Mail vans out of the depot.

The Oxford Mail understands managers have been drafted in from other depots across the region to tackle the backload.

Strikers were today told to return to work by a CWU divisional representative because the strike was not official.

An official dispute involves members balloting on action and this being endorsed by the union executive. Employers then require seven days notice of any action.

However, workers decided to continue with their unofficial action.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said: "Royal Mail is extremely disappointed that despite the CWU renouncing the unofficial action, the union seems to have made little effort to resolve the dispute swiftly, and encourage staff to return to work.

"Royal Mail remain available at any time to discuss the issue at the centre of the dispute, which is being handled in accordance with procedures agreed with the CWU.

"Collections and deliveries have been made today. However disruption to customers is inevitable."

Workers at the Oxford depot will meet at 11am on Thursday to decide the next step.

In a separate dispute at the Abingdon delivery office, in Ock Street, 80 postal workers walked out at 7.30am today after a member of staff was suspended for refusing to take on extra work without pay.

After talks between union officials and managers, the man was reinstated. A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The issue was resolved after 40 minutes. Any staff taking on additional work will receive the appropriate overtime payments."

krooserman1802 · Post by **krooserman1802** » 18 Jul 2007, 11:59

Listen don't get me wrong, we all know that the unofficial strike in 2003 was needed, but for some of us our office was split and that split has been for over a year. We are just getting back on track. Its easy for us on here to say !"all out", we are at the least, activists with a union position or active lay members. The majority of our members are not. It didn't help much when the Ballot paper spelt out quite clearly the law regarding official disputes. This has made many members a bit wary.

I understand that not many activists would opnely admit that their office would be a bit dodgy to get out unofficially, but I will. I know that managers get on here and we have to be careful, but lets not get blinded by the support we have had so far and thinking that it would continue if it went unofficial.

I am a rep and have been for 22 years, I have had experience of many unofficial disputes, back when things were easier to resolve and we weren't managed by the bastards we got now. Just think about things. Good Luck to us all.

goinpostal · Post by **goinpostal** » 18 Jul 2007, 12:43

539 wrote:My members and I were out in 2003 and im extremely proud to have taken part in it we did 11 days as well and saved this union. Im afraid to say that if we had not had that action, we would not even be talking about industrial action official or unofficial now.

good on ya 539.

Strangler i think you have got the issues confused. Even if the turnout was 100% so that the bare 51% against action was a genuine majority of posties (it wasn't anywhere near), even that is secondary.

The workers in those offices took the action they needed to - in fact probably all offices were in the same boat but not confident enough to seize the iniatiative like theydid. The issue was no longer about pay but about self-defense against a management holding a knife to the union's throat.

Management saw the failed ballot as a signal to go on the offensive on everythin. The ballot was about pay,but when itwas lost management didn't just leave it there and not give us a rise, they took it as a green light to smash the union inthe workplaces. nobody voted in favour of that.

London and oxford fought for everyone which is why this bad mouthing the south by the All Together Now alliance of northern branches is bollocks.

London and Oxford fight, lets learn how to do what they do in other regions - they along with other militant offices that want an escalation, that aren't afraid to do what is needed by any means necessary, should call a conference so activists and similar minded branches around the country can begin to coordinate, backing up the leadership when it takes a good iniative, and pile the pressure on them or even take action directly when the leaders won't or can't, like in Oxford right now.

Victory to the Oxford posties!! :cfo :lfo

oxon · Post by **oxon** » 18 Jul 2007, 13:30

Its not confirm yet but I have been told that Crozier is here in Mail Centre Oxford and talking with cwu reps. Strike is still on and there will be staff meeting tomorrw at 1100hrs. So far Oxford Mail Centre is affected but other 12 delivery officers are working .