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76 percent vote for strike...
now let’s start
national action
w
hat a great result!
Postal workers have voted
76 percent yes for a national
strike on a 67 percent turnout.
They have defied lies and
intimidation from the bosses, the
government and the media. They have
shown their determination to defend
the public service, jobs, pay and
conditions—and to stop union-busting.
This clear signal from the
membership must be turned as soon as
possible into immediate and hard-hitting
national strike action.
The government and management
are not seeking a negotiated deal—they
want blood.
They say their “change programme”
is over for the year and are now ready
to talk. But they are not prepared to
withdraw all the cuts and attacks they
rammed through earlier this year.
Instead of concentrating on the talks,
the union must call action to win.
Sustained action, not one-day action,
makes it impossible for the bosses to
cover the job or to get in enough agency
workers and casuals.
The best strike would be all-out and
indefinite. It would quickly force the
issue to a conclusion. At the very least
we need accelerating strikes.
There can be no deal until the
executive action is withdrawn and there
is a proper commitment on reinstating
all those sacked or disciplined, plus a
shorter working week, and action on
pensions, work rates and other issues.
We have many allies
The truth is that postal workers are
potentially in a very strong position.
We have never before gone into a
strike with a backlog in the system.
Traffic volumes make this a good time
of year to strike.
Other trade unionists and the wider
public can be won to support us if we
explain the fight is for public services,
jobs, union rights, pay and conditions.
 A massive backlog of bitterness has
built up among the workforce. As long
as it is used to keep up the momentum Dartford and elsewhere.
then it will be a powerful force. The Regions could organise a solidarity
union must not let the members down. day outside the centres inviting other
trade unionists to join postal workers
A mass response and their families in solidarity.
We need every weapon in our arsenal to
win. We must prevent Royal Mail from We can win
setting up a major scabbing operation. The postal workers’ fight is crucial for
It is understandable given the amount every worker, student, pensioner and
of bullying—particularly in those areas unemployed person in Britain.
that have taken the most action since It is a crucial early battle in a much
June—that many reps and activists bigger war—the war over public
are nervous of picketing out the scab services, jobs, cuts, union rights, pay
centres that management have set up in and conditions at work. It’s about who
pays for the continuing economic crisis.
A victory for the postal workers
We want our would show everyone else that
resistance is possible and can win.
money back! Pampered politicians, both Labour and
Tory, are bidding to see who can force
Postal workers in London have
voted by a massive 96 percent to
us to work the longest before claiming a
measly state pension, and who can slash
suspend funding to the Labour
Party. the most from public spending.
Postal workers must not be left
That result is a wholly justified
response to Labour’s attack on on their own to face the bosses and
the politicians that stand behind
workers in general and postal
workers in particular. them. Postal workers’ enemies in
Unfortunately the vote is management, government and the media
only consultative and will not will unite in an effort to crush us.
immediately stop the cash. Our side must unite to win.
Every area should follow The CWU should call:
London’s lead and organise such Immediate, hard-hitting action
a vote to increase the pressure on A national demonstration
government ministers, and on the Build support groups
union’s leaders to call a national A full ‘do the job properly’ campaign
ballot to suspend the money to Demand the TUC and other trade
Labour. unions organise massive fund raising
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