‘We’re fighting for our jobs, terms and conditions, pensions, the future of the union and the future of the business,’ Communication Workers Union (CWU) SW London Area Processing Rep Paul Cox told News line yesterday.
He was speaking on the picket line outside the giant Nine Elms sorting and delivery office at the start of the first of two national 48-hour strikes by over 130,000 postal workers.
Cox continued: ‘Members are angry because of management proposals which, if their plans are carried out, would lead to 40,000 job cuts and the remaining staff would become totally subservient to management as a result of their flexibility plans. Workers would also see their pensions closing.
‘We stand in the way of their plans. They are definitely out to break the union and remove us from the workforce as a negotiating force.
‘The message from our leadership is we will not call the strikes off until agreement is reached.
‘We have to win this dispute. We either win it or we are finished as a union – there is no middle ground.
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Steve Matharu, CWU area rep at Gatwick Mail Centre, told News Line: ‘We want a decent pay deal in line with inflation and to have a reliable work/life balance.’
Matharu said that the postal workers’ fight is against the Brown government and that there should be joint action by all unions fighting to defend public services.
‘If need be, we would not hesitate to come out on strike on the day of the election if called by Brown,’ he said firmly.
This determined position to take on the government was supported by Raj Nothay, late shift deputy CWU rep, who told News Line: ‘We need solidarity action from other unions.’
In Liverpool, Ray Lucas, Merseyside Amal Acting Branch Secretary, told News Line: ‘Our members are solid. They are determined to defend their pensions and terms and conditions.
‘They don’t want Royal Mail’s “flexibility” and annualised hours.
‘This dispute has to be won, Royal Mail want to eradicate the union.’
Meanwhile, talks were continuing at the TUC between CWU negotiators and Royal Mail bosses.
The CWU insisted that the strikes will not be called off until an agreement is reached.
CWU general secretary, Billy Hayes, said: ‘We are very disappointed that Allan Leighton and Adam Crozier are nowhere to be seen when the future of British postal services are at stake.
‘The government has shown complete disinterest in the fate of this dispute. If this was Northern Rock they would be pouring money in. This is a company that they own and they seem to have no interest whatsoever.’