Postal workers try to refuse to carry BNP mail!
Worker Independence | 03.06.2004 01:41 | Anti-racism
p to 30 postal workers in the Grimsby area initially refused to deliver election literature for the British National Party (BNP).
) 31 May 2004
Up to 30 postal workers in the Grimsby area initially refused to deliver election literature for the British National Party (BNP).
Up to 30 postal workers in the Grimsby area initially refused to deliver election literature for the British National Party (BNP).
But according to a source, the protesters' numbers were whittled down as yesterday's deadline for delivering political pamphlets approached. The source, who did not wish to be named, said: "There were originally between 20 to 30 staff but it seems the majority of them were told they had to take them out. But a couple of us stood firm."
He told the Grimsby Telegraph the situation was eased when the BNP failed to put forward any candidates for next month's council elections.
However six BNP candidates are standing in the European elections for the Yorkshire and Humber area.
All political parties are entitled to a free mail drop near election time, and a Royal Mail spokesman said the company had a legal obligation to deliver.
He said: "We accept that some staff have strong feelings about certain things" and added that the Royal Mail would not "force anyone" into taking out the pamphlets.
If enough workers had refused, he said, temporary staff and managers would have ensured that the leaflets reached letter boxes.
Meanwhile, Chris Proctor, spokesman for the Communication Workers Union (CWU) could not confirm if a statement allegedly given by CWU general secretary Billy Hayes was accurate.
In a leaflet circulated to postal workers in the North East, Mr Hayes is reported as saying: "For any postal worker - if you don't want to deliver any racist filth, you have got my backing."
However Mr Proctor said he was sure management would deal with any worker's concerns "sympathetically".
He added: "It's the same if someone has strong views on abortion, and we had leaflets to post on that."
A statement slating the CWU for "encouraging" postal workers not to deliver BNP literature has been posted on the party's website. And a spokesman said: "When do postmen decide who gets their mail and who doesn't?"
The postal worker added that the BNP had been delivering their own literature across North East Lincolnshire.
He said: "We are going to have this every time there's an election unless we change the policy."
Up to 30 postal workers in the Grimsby area initially refused to deliver election literature for the British National Party (BNP).
Up to 30 postal workers in the Grimsby area initially refused to deliver election literature for the British National Party (BNP).
But according to a source, the protesters' numbers were whittled down as yesterday's deadline for delivering political pamphlets approached. The source, who did not wish to be named, said: "There were originally between 20 to 30 staff but it seems the majority of them were told they had to take them out. But a couple of us stood firm."
He told the Grimsby Telegraph the situation was eased when the BNP failed to put forward any candidates for next month's council elections.
However six BNP candidates are standing in the European elections for the Yorkshire and Humber area.
All political parties are entitled to a free mail drop near election time, and a Royal Mail spokesman said the company had a legal obligation to deliver.
He said: "We accept that some staff have strong feelings about certain things" and added that the Royal Mail would not "force anyone" into taking out the pamphlets.
If enough workers had refused, he said, temporary staff and managers would have ensured that the leaflets reached letter boxes.
Meanwhile, Chris Proctor, spokesman for the Communication Workers Union (CWU) could not confirm if a statement allegedly given by CWU general secretary Billy Hayes was accurate.
In a leaflet circulated to postal workers in the North East, Mr Hayes is reported as saying: "For any postal worker - if you don't want to deliver any racist filth, you have got my backing."
However Mr Proctor said he was sure management would deal with any worker's concerns "sympathetically".
He added: "It's the same if someone has strong views on abortion, and we had leaflets to post on that."
A statement slating the CWU for "encouraging" postal workers not to deliver BNP literature has been posted on the party's website. And a spokesman said: "When do postmen decide who gets their mail and who doesn't?"
The postal worker added that the BNP had been delivering their own literature across North East Lincolnshire.
He said: "We are going to have this every time there's an election unless we change the policy."
Worker Independence
Comments
Display the following 3 comments