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Postal Workers resume strike action at 7.00pm today in a fight to protect jobs and services as well as to win an above-inflation pay increase. Gary Clarke, Solidarity member and sub area rep of the CWU's Scotland No.2 branch, writes below on the ongoping dispute and it's relevance to the wider campaign for public service workers: Postal workers are striking again following our very successful strike on the 29th June. The strike of at least 127,000 workers was supported by anything between 95% to 98% of the membership. This was a tremendous result considering the pressure from the management and the fact for half of our membership it was the first time they had been on strike. Management’s laughable claims that 60% had turned up for work are nothing more than a joke. Up and down the country there was nothing but closed offices with only managers working. 
But since the first strike Royal Mail managers have refused to enter negotiations with the CWU. In fact all they have done is to re-affirm their intention to press ahead with their business savings without agreement. Now we are entering a vital time for the dispute as it seems that the management are planning for a long battle. But they were taken aback with the strength of support for the strike.
Threats to try and change our terms and conditions on return to work but were not carried through because of the strength of the strike. We have reports from across the country of support from the public who have seen through Royal Mails propaganda and know this dispute is not only about pay but defending a vital public service. We have also seen massive support from other public service workers as they know at they will be facing the same fight as us. After speaking to a meeting of NHS porters and shop stewards from the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh they took a decision not to touch any mail on strike days. We have also seen GMB gas workers refusing to cross our picket lines to pickup their parts. It’s clear that we must turn the anger and the support that we have into more action that can win a victory. It's becoming clear that the new Gordon Brown government are not going to intervene and are in fact siding with the management. Even the Tories have demanded talks between the union and Royal Mail. If our next 24 hour strike will not force Royal Mail round the table then we will have no choice than to step up the action and link up with other public sector workers who are also fighting on pay, jobs and opposing privatisation. We must demand not only a resolution to this dispute but the total removal of the leadership of Royal Mail, Leighton Crozier and co. who are responsible for this dispute and are only in the industry to line their own pockets. They have no interest in running a public service. We demand: above inflation pay rise with no strings A shorter working week now No changes to our pension scheme Removal of the senior management of Royal Mail No Post Office Closures A fully funded public service |
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