Up with the Posties!
imc-uk-features | 20.07.2007 23:10 | Workers' Movements
Postal workers have walked out twice within two weeks this month, with picket lines mounted at all major sorting and delivery offices across the country. The continuing industrial actions aim to stop the Royal Mail's 'modernisation plans', which the Communication Workers Union (CWU) says would only mean cuts in members' pay and pensions, job cuts and more post office closures. Crown Post Office workers have also gone on strike twice this week over Post Office Ltd plans to close further Crown Post Office branches and transfer services into WH Smith stores.
Reports and pics: Birmingham: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | video | Coventry: 1 | 2 | Solihull | London | Sheffield | Liverpool
Having tried "every measure possible" to seek a fair resolution to the long dispute with the Royal Mail management, 77% of CWU members had voted for industrial action to "force the Royal Mail to think again." Following the two 24-hour strikes, the CWU has now anounced further industrial actions aiming at "two weeks of continuous disruption to mail services". The management has continuously refused the CWU offers of "meaningful talks".
Back in 2006, Royal Mail and the CWU had agreed that they would work together to tackle the impact of competition in the mail market, use government investment to introduce automation, improve efficiency, introduce innovation products and raise the value and status of postal workers' jobs. Royal Mail, however, ditched the agreement, refused to negotiate a pay resettlement and insisted on unilateral imposition of its cost-cutting business plan with mass job losses and cuts to workers' pay and pensions. Furthermore, the Royal Mail management has been deliberately misleading the public by claiming that the CWU want a 27% pay rise. The CWU said they had never demanded a 27% pay rise.
Similarly, over 73% of CWU members had voted for strike action at Crown Post Offices in face of the "unreasonable actions" of Post Office Ltd. The Royal Mail subsidiary is planning to privatise 70 Crown Post Offices and move services into WH Smith stores and sell off or close further 15 branches. The deal follows a trial of 6 'Post Office outlets' in WH Smith stores. WH Smith is expected to make up to £2.5 million extra in its annual profits. Post Office Ltd also plans to impose a pay cut for 80% of staff for a period of at least two years, while offering the remaining 20% a below-inflation 'pay rise'. There are currently 458 Crown Post Office branches in the UK, compared to 1,500 in 1988.
The postal strikes have seen overwhelming support. Over 95% of postal workers across the country were said to have taken part in the actions. Royal Mail, however, kept claiming that support for the strikes was "patchy" and that they had "well-developed contingency plans" in place. These turned out to be shipping in managers to do normal staff's work, as well as resorting to rival company DX, which, according to the BBC, had offered to help Royal Mail make its urgent deliveries over the period of the strikes, expecting to gain about £10m of business as a result.
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audio - Bristol CWU explain current round of postal strikes
21.07.2007 00:40
the mainstream media have failed to warn the public that the entire service is under threat
by Kevin Beazer - Bristol Communication Workers' Union Friday, Jul 20 2007, 1:49pm
globalisation / news report
Regional secretary for the CWU Kevin Beazer regional secretary explains the roots of the current dispute
After 350 years of universal service the British public is facing an end to daily deliveries and high rates for posting letters outside cities. The press, however, is portraying the present dispute as purely about pay. Kevin Beezer sets the record straight explaining fully the background to the current series of strikes.
In this twenty minute interview Kevin explains what the dispute will mean for the public - less deliveries and higher prices - if the CWU lose. As wel as identifying the tiny bunch of 'fat cats' who will make a fortune and run!
Tony Gosling
Homepage:
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=23956