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Post Worker Newsletter
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| Newsletter 04/12/07 | |
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Post Worker is hosting 'a chance to discuss', a meeting to discuss the result of the ballot and the way forward. All CWU members are very welcome to attend. The meeting is designed to allow debate, and to organise for the future. After The Ballot: How Do We Move Forward? Sunday 9 december, 2pm, Exmouth Arms, 1 Starcross Street, London NW1 (5 minutes walk from Euston Station) Speakers include John Farnan (CWU Postal Executive, pc)
If your Branch doesn't have a standing order, then why not order a batch for your members to read? £10 for 50 copies £15 for 100 copies £20 for 200 copies Orders over 200, at 10p per copy. To order your copies, just phone 07871 927 008. Electronic .pdf copies can be downloaded from the Downloads page on this site.
In the run-up to CWU Annual Conference this month, Post Worker leads on how to fight Allan Leighton's privatisation plans and push our own agenda for the future of our jobs and the postal industry. There are also articles and letters on the recent Postal Executive elections; the Efficiency/Savings deal; Pay; Pensions; plus the usual reports on disputes. Download a copy of this issue of POST WORKER here.
POST WORKER produced a quick response to Allan Leighton's letter, in which he pushed forward his project for 'giving' up to 20% of Royal Mail to staff in a permanent extension of his Share In Success scheme. This would be the first step in a plan for full-blown privatisation of Royal Mail. Download the POST WORKER leaflet here.
BELFAST STRIKERS VICTORIOUS IN HISTORIC STRIKE! 
After 18 days on indefinite unofficial strike action, Belfast postal workers have won a glorious victory over Royal Mail. Their hugely popular fight against management bullying and harassment united all communities in support. They have won an independent Review of Employee Relations and Industrial Relations within Royal Mail in the Belfast area, and ensured that Royal Mail has given a clear commitment not to victimise or discipline anyone involved in the strike. This is a report from the Belfast strikers. 18 Days on strike for Dignity and Respect in Belfast /Mullusk Mail Centre For some time now Royal Mail have bullied and harassed staff within these work places and treated hard working staff with contempt. In 2003 CWU Branch Officials reported Royal Mail to the Labour Relations Agency, commonly know as ACAS outside Northern Ireland, a total of 42 terms of reference were determined. Breaching National Agreed Conduct/Attendance Procedures to penalise staff using a non skilled non trained acting manager and with the full support of the office DOM the ongoing rein of harassment could not be sustained by members. Local CWU reps within Belfast DO were asked to intervene as the members had left their work station for the safety and sanctuary of the CWU room. Local CWU reps immediately arranged a meeting with the unit DOM. While engaged in constructive discussions a senior DOM from another unit aggressively and abruptly ended the meeting instructing the reps to tell staff to return to work. Informing the members of the meeting and the manner in which it ended they decided to walk bring most of the office with them in solidarity. By the close of the 1st day most OPGs/OMV drivers and National return centre staff were on strike united as one, bullying and harassment was rife through the whole office at Tomb Street. Local CWU reps on day 2&3, meet with local Royal Mail managers to resolve the ongoing strike with a reasonable request by members of an independent ER&IR review only to be met with arrogance, contempt and unacceptable preconditions. By day 3 local GMB so called trade unionist scabs within Tomb Street with the approval of Royal Mail issued sinister sectarian attacks on CWU members by way of correspondence to the local media that Royal Mail were forced to repudiate. Late on the 3rd night of the strike Royal Mail managers delivered letters to 4 CWU reps homes threatening to take their homes and any possessions to pay for compensation from customers, sinister letters last introduced during the miners strike. CWU members from Mullusk were so incensed by Royal Mails sinister letters to the 4 reps they joined their comrades on strike totalling 950 staff overall. They too had horrific stories to tell concerning Royal Mail managers appliance of attendance procedures. Mass rallies were set up to bring awareness to the general public and local politicians/business leaders to put pressure on Royal Mail to agree a reasonable request for an independent ER&IR review. Royal Mail went into overdrive with its PR machine spinning lie after lie attempting to ostracise the local reps from discussions refusing to sit in the same building as our local reps, Royal Mail senior management had been exposed for what they are incompetent. The resolve, heart and determination of CWU members/staff was incredible to say the least especially in Mullusk mail centre positioned in an industrial park in the wilderness, no amenities other than a makeshift fire with only the comradeship and the endeavour to make Mullusk a better place to work in that is common bond of all working class people to be treated with dignity and respect. CWU HQ invited local CWU reps as well as LRA/ACAS to London to discuss correspondence from Royal Mail HQ to CWU HQ. After frank and honest discussions an understanding was reached between local CWU and LRA/ACAS awaiting Royal Mails response. The 18th day of the strike a meeting was called to inform members a resolution had been agreed. Today is Wednesday 22nd February 2006 three days after returning from 18 days of strike action CWU members in Belfast and Mullusk have called on CWU HQ to ballot the members on official industrial action due to the contempt and victimisation of CWU members by Royal Mail senior management. Read more detailed reports from BBC Online and Socialist Worker Download the POST WORKER BELFAST VICTORY POSTER. Full reports on the strike can be read in Socialist Worker here and here.
The new issue of POST WORKER leads on how and why members should fight not only privatisation and 'Employee Share Schemes', but liberalisation and the introduction of competition as well. The back page spells out the kind of campaign we need amongst rank and file members, in order to win the battle for their hearts and minds. The centre spread is a Question and Answer Poster looking at the future of Royal Mail and the schemes of its false friends, 'The Two Alans', Johnson and Leighton. Also inside is a focus on the state of and the threat to our pensions. In all, it is an excellent tool for activists and members to use in the fight for the future of our industry. To order copies for your Branch, or to sell to your workmates, send us an e-mail. Download a copy of this issue of POST WORKER here.
Press speculation has continued over the last few months about whether Royal mail will be privatised. POST WORKER is taking part in the CWU campaign to prevent any sell-off, whether wholesale or partial, or 'employee share deals'. We aim over the coming months to be a resource for activists and reps to use in order to win the debate on the future of Royal Mail with rank and file members in the workplace.
Allan Leighton has announced a second edition of his Share In Success scheme
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POST WORKER SUPPORTS THE CWU CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRIVATISATION OF ROYAL MAIL
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