The Communic-ation Workers Union yesterday said its members would not be impressed by remarks from Royal Mail directors that bosses are ready for a three-month ‘bloody’ struggle.
Speaking from the union’s annual conference in Bournemouth, CWU Head of Communications Kevin Slocombe told News Line: ‘If this is true, there is going to be a lot of shock among postal workers.
‘Royal Mail directors should be talking to the union not shouting out how they want to demolish the union.
‘Any threat to link our dispute to the miners or to Longbridge is ridiculous.
‘Any decision on industrial action is up to the CWU.
‘We’ve no intention of calling an all-out strike.’
Commenting on reports that Royal Mail has lined up 6,000 senior managers to strike-break, Slocombe said they wouldn’t make much impact.
He dismissed reports of further contingency plans.
CWU Greenford branch secretary Geoff Loftus said: ‘It’s a scare tactic.
‘It’s disgusting the way management are treating our members.
‘It’s going back to old school blackguarding.
‘We want Royal Mail to treat our negotiators seriously.
‘And we don’t want Royal Mail handed over and privatised, that’s not in the public’s interests and it’s not in our members’ interests.
‘Royal Mail should grow up.
‘Our members have to stand up against bully-boy tactics.’
Asked about a public sector alliance to fight privatisation and wage-cutting, Loftus said: ‘Getting all the public sector unions out together would be a splendid idea.
‘We should at least have a national march together.’
CWU London Divisional Committee Secretary John Denton added: ‘All the polls show there is overwhelming support for industrial action.
‘This is a last desperate act to encourage a few people to vote against.
‘No way is our union going to go for an all-out strike.
‘Royal Mail must be preparing for a lock-out.
‘I think this is a scare tactic.
‘Unless the government is behind it, like Thatcher was during the miners’ strike, then that would be another matter.
‘But I don’t see any evidence this government wants to see an all-out strike or lock out.’
