THE CWU Postal National Executive is meeting next Tuesday and is expected to carry a resolution for a national ballot for national strike action against Royal Mail.
In doing so, the executive will simply be bowing to the wishes of their membership, who not only want national strike action, they want to see a public sector alliance formed, capable of defeating both the employers and the government.
There was a very lively and militant picket at the East London Mail Centre, Bow, yesterday for the latest Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) strike against savage attacks on post workers’ jobs, pay, pensions and working conditions.
CWU member Steve Godfrey told News Line: ‘We joined this job knowing the wages weren’t good but it was a job for life with a reasonable pension at the end of it.
‘Now they have come for our pensions.
‘We have to fight this one.
‘It really is a fight to the bitter end now.
‘But I’m concerned there is going to be a fudge at the end of it.
‘We need the strike to go national.
‘London is taking the fight on its own and it is spreading outside London but we need it to go national.
‘If we lose this, it will be part-time working. The industry would be decimated.
‘If you look at all the other utilities that have been privatised, jobs and wages have been cut and the service has deteriorated.
‘It’s time the lessons were learned.
‘It needs a general strike to defend workers’ rights and jobs.
‘It’s turning into a sweatshop Britain.’
Acting CWU rep Anthony Griffiths said: ‘We are striking to protect jobs, pay and working conditions.
‘We are protecting our working practices which they are taking away.
‘We would literally be moved from pillar to post if management have their way.
‘That would result in quite a loss of a service that’s mainly doing the job for the public.
‘But they don’t see it that way, they just see profits.
‘We have to win this fight. If we don’t stick together, Royal Mail will totally change.
‘It’s all heading for a part-time service.’
CWU member Micky Headley interjected: ‘It’s a drive to a slave wage economy.
‘We need solidarity and the rest of the country on strike, not just London.
‘They want us to have a pay freeze and we can’t afford that.’
Anthony Griffiths continued: ‘We made £321 million profits in a recession and Royal Mail are acting as if we are a High Street store gone bankrupt.
‘Personally, in my opinion we need a general strike, everyone out.
‘The government made a mistake when it said everyone should have a pay freeze.
‘It’s a dead government walking, it doesn’t change, it doesn’t listen to anyone.’
At the giant Mount Pleasant Mail Centre, north London, CWU member Neil said: ‘It’s not a good situation.
‘Management are hell bent on destroying the Post Office.
‘They won’t listen to anyone else, they’ve got a plan and they are sticking to it.
‘The union has a hard fight. It has to go national.
‘It’s started off office by office but in the end it’s going to have to go national.
‘All the public sector unions out together against privatisation would be a good idea.’
CWU picket Paul added: ‘We should all be out together.
‘There has to be a national strike, and it needs to be longer than a day.
‘The way the postmen who are on strike are being treated is disgusting.
‘They are a tribute to the union.
‘We should all have been out nationally weeks ago.
‘If we had, we would have won by now.’
