Postal Workers Refuse to Deliver BNP Leaflets
Freedom Newspaper | 18.05.2009 08:55 | Anti-racism | Workers' Movements
Postal worker stood firm against management intimidation at the Bridgwater Sorting Office, Somerset this week as bosses attempted to force them to deliver British National Party (BNP) leaflets in the run up to the forthcoming Euro elections.
The workers at the sorting office that covers much of the South West were subjected to days of intense intimidation in order to compel them to deliver the racist literature. Each worker was interviewed separately about their political beliefs and questioned on reasons why they should refuse to deliver such obvious racist and inflammatory material. Some were threatened with suspension and many were misled about their rights concerning the delivery of mail, with one postal worker describing managers as acting like "cheerleaders for the BNP".
The refusal to deliver post, under certain circumstances, is legal under the 'conscience clause' agreed by Royal Mail and Communication Workers Union (CWU). The clause states "delivery will be secured by the individual due to undertake the particular delivery, local management will deal sympathetically with requests to deviate from this arrangement. Such cases may arise as a result of personal circumstances or beliefs……’
This is not the first time Bridgwater postal workers have taken such action. Back in 2004 they was a similar dispute concerning the delivery of BNP election leaflets. Royal Mail has honoured its obligations in the past, and it is not clear why local managers are willing to break the clause now.
One theory is it is part of a renewed attempt to divide the workforce who have a history of militant action. Bridgwater workers have been solid in their support of industrial action over working conditions going back many years. Back in 2002 an indefinite wildcat strike won them concessions over a shorter working week, overtime rates and an end to management bullying. There was a strike late last year over the replacement of full time with part time workers, as was there in 2007 for similar reasons. Ironically the only person to cross the picket line was a former BNP activist expelled from the CWU.
The BNP have spent a considerable amount of money on propaganda for the up and coming Euro elections on June 4 in the hope of gaining seats at the European Parliament and cementing a long standing relationship with other fascist parties like Front National in France and the Forza Nuova in Italy. Militant anti-fascists have been campaigning throughout the country to prevent the BNP spreading their message and securing their first European seat.
So far a third of the 120 Bridgwater workforce has refused to deliver the literature. Union officials put this down to the campaign of fear and intimidation by managers at the sorting office.
[This article appears in the last edition of Freedom Newspaper]
The refusal to deliver post, under certain circumstances, is legal under the 'conscience clause' agreed by Royal Mail and Communication Workers Union (CWU). The clause states "delivery will be secured by the individual due to undertake the particular delivery, local management will deal sympathetically with requests to deviate from this arrangement. Such cases may arise as a result of personal circumstances or beliefs……’
This is not the first time Bridgwater postal workers have taken such action. Back in 2004 they was a similar dispute concerning the delivery of BNP election leaflets. Royal Mail has honoured its obligations in the past, and it is not clear why local managers are willing to break the clause now.
One theory is it is part of a renewed attempt to divide the workforce who have a history of militant action. Bridgwater workers have been solid in their support of industrial action over working conditions going back many years. Back in 2002 an indefinite wildcat strike won them concessions over a shorter working week, overtime rates and an end to management bullying. There was a strike late last year over the replacement of full time with part time workers, as was there in 2007 for similar reasons. Ironically the only person to cross the picket line was a former BNP activist expelled from the CWU.
The BNP have spent a considerable amount of money on propaganda for the up and coming Euro elections on June 4 in the hope of gaining seats at the European Parliament and cementing a long standing relationship with other fascist parties like Front National in France and the Forza Nuova in Italy. Militant anti-fascists have been campaigning throughout the country to prevent the BNP spreading their message and securing their first European seat.
So far a third of the 120 Bridgwater workforce has refused to deliver the literature. Union officials put this down to the campaign of fear and intimidation by managers at the sorting office.
[This article appears in the last edition of Freedom Newspaper]
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Comments
Hide the following 14 comments
Well done.
18.05.2009 09:42
Antifa
Well done, the dogfighter on the BNP MEP leaflet is Polish!!RAF,
18.05.2009 09:43
My grandad was in Polish RAF, he must be doing backlips in his grave about this.
International brigader
70s style nonsense
18.05.2009 09:44
not a postie
BNP=Bosses' Party
18.05.2009 10:11
It's interesting to see how the BNP have responded to this on message boards such as the Sheffield Star's. They have tried to portray themselves in Yorkshire as the friend of ("British") workers but when the posties took action they were demanding they be sacked and replaced by scab workers! They've attacked the unions and demanded that all unemployed people work for benefits! Oops the mask slipped there.....BNP=bosses' party.
Front 242
Support
18.05.2009 10:17
Fuck the Fash
Only a Dinosaur Party
18.05.2009 11:08
In May 2004 Nottingham City Council, in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service and the police, secured an Anti Social Behaviour Order for flyposting against Glen Clarke, working for Street Media Distribution Limited, The Council applied for a two year Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) on the grounds that flyposting caused "distress" and "alarm" to local residents and businesses. The judge agreed and stated that flyposting clearly demonstrated distress and alarm. The judge granted a two year ASBO on Mr. Clarke, who was not only forbidden to flypost in the city of Nottingham during that period - otherwise he would receive an automatic 28 days in custody - but also was told not be found with posters or paste in his possession or be fined. Similarly, the Directors of Sony avoided an ASBO by bargaining with Camden Council - leaving lower level employees exposed to prosecution.
It is a genuine fear for Posties that they could be simply left to suffer the consequences of a vicious and alien political creed. A party that is - by its own admission - filled with racists, fantasists and criminals. Would a Postie really want to deliver BNP leaflets knowing of the Far Right tactic of slipping razor blades into letters to Jews? Would a Postie really consider that political or simply a matter of their Duty? It is not simply a matter of the Royal Mail having a solicitor look over the leaflets for signs of racism. That does not remove the possibility that recipients of the leaflets might complain of distress and alarm when they receive the leaflet.
The Royal Mail Management are obviously happy to distribute material for the BNP at whatever cost to their employees. This is, in part, due to the BNP systematically targeting middle income, middle managers in order to improve their image. If customers begin to complain that they are suffering distress and alarm because they are in receipt of fascist leaflets and fear for their future as a consequence, then the Postal Management are open to an ASBO.
It is not political. It is simply good sense not to place your directors in a position where they can be threatened with an ASBO.
Nick Griffins Accountant
more inaccuracies
18.05.2009 12:45
apparently the models used to represent a british elderly couple are actually italian!
http://blog.thestraightchoice.org/2009/05/the-telegraph-picks-up-the-story/
the straight choice seems to be a good website monitoring the distribution of leaflets by all political parties
annoyed
Homepage: http://www.thestraightchoice.org
Leaflets
18.05.2009 13:11
Cambridge antifascist
Wonderful
18.05.2009 15:00
ellie
Blind prejudice!
18.05.2009 15:05
Do these people sound like extremists: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFEBMjkKC-0
Unprejudiced
Ooo arrr!
18.05.2009 15:59
davechapple@btinternet.com
Greg
The Policy of Lies and Victimhood continue
18.05.2009 16:19
Should anybody apologise to the professional victims at the BNP? Seems like the truth keeps picking on them. So no. Their vicious alien politics is destroying this country making the white working class ashamed of themselves.
Laughing at Liars
Glad to hear about BNP resistance...
18.05.2009 22:05
Taunton radical
BNP=Bosses party
19.05.2009 10:04
You lot are in the bosses pockets you doppy fuckers!
Keith