Wild Cat Posties Action

[bolshevik butcher]

http://www.socialist.net/postal-workers-ac...provocation.htm (http://www.socialist.net/postal-workers-action-provocation.htm)

Postal workers take unofficial action in face of management provocation
By Rob Sewell
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
Some 130,000 postal workers in the Communication Workers Union were due to return to work today after taking successful strike action in defence of terms and conditions.

However many workers were scandalized to discover that management had imposed new attendance times without their consent. This provocative action fuelled the latest walkouts in different parts of the country. Royal Mail confirmed that unofficial strike action is taking place in Liverpool and London. The unofficial stoppage was called at district offices throughout Liverpool and soon spread to the main sorting office at Copperas Hill, while workers at branches in east and south London also walked out. In Glasgow workers at the Victoria Road office have also joined the unofficial stoppage. The action could easily spread to other offices around the country.

Royal Mail worker David Wall, a postman with the Walton office in Liverpool, said hundreds of postal workers had gone back to the picket lines to protest against the changes to flexible working hours. These included the end to leave early once staff finished their round. He explained that the unofficial strikes were triggered by new Royal Mail rules, which they had not consented to. Usually, postal workers began their shift between 0500 and 0530 and were free to go when they had finished their round. But management has stepped in to stop this practice, provoking anger and the walkouts.

Royal Mail spokesperson reiterated the line that the company was "extremely concerned at the unlawful unofficial strike action taking place at a handful of sites". He continued, "Unlawful action is wholly unacceptable and must be condemned by the trade union".

It was this loss of flexibility, and not pay, which was the main reason why postal workers were on strike. It was Royal Mail management that introduced this flexibility when it suited them, but now they want to take it away claiming they needed to “modernize” the business and save money.

It is clear that Royal Mail management is determined to break the union and impose their cost-cutting measures on the workforce. In this, they have clearly got the backing of the government who has refused to step in and settle the dispute. This strategy is part and parcel of the government’s attempt to hold down public-sector pay increases to about 2% over the next three years. This has provoked fury amongst trade unionists and has opened up the possibility of a "winter of discontent".

Full support to the postal workers! Spread the action!

Force Royal Mail to back down!

Reject the 2% wage restraint proposals!

[catch]

Just posted in worker actions, should've looked first sorry.

As wildcats erupt across the UK, the royalmailchat.co.uk forum has obtained a copy of Royal Mail's battle plans for the current negotiations with the CWU.

The document, a powerpoint presentation sent to general managers shortly after further strikes were announced in September, outlines Royal Mail's endgames for the talks. It includes a whole range of measures which postal workers said today would destroy the postal service if brought in.

Highlights include:

- No more negotiations with the CWU on every subject at every level
- No more payments for change
- Flexibilised hours and teamworking
- Shift changes at a moment's notice and annualised hours
- Later start times - the cause of today's unofficial action, part of "Network 2007"
- Changes to the pension scheme (the end of final salary pensions)


Wildcat postal strikes have sprung up around the UK at the end of an official 48-hour Royal Mail walkout.

130,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members returned to work today after the latest four day strikes, but the introduction of later starts by executive action has led to mass walkouts in Glasgow, Lancaster, Liverpool, and London, with more offices to follow.

The wildcat started at district offices throughout Liverpool and soon spread to the main sorting office at Copperas Hill, while workers at branches in east and south London also walked out.

Workers at the Victoria Road office in Glasgow walked out earlier, but are now back at work. Hundreds of workers have been on strike today against the changes, brought in without any consultation, and which also prevent workers from leaving work after completing their deliveries, known as "job and finish".

One postal worker in London commented that these unofficial strikes could lead to all-out action at a national level, given the unpopularity of the late start times and the current mood amongst postal workers who are fighting many other measures as well.

We will update with more news as information comes in.

http://libcom.org/tags/royal-mail

also sky (Fox for those in the US) is running a poll - http://news.sky.com - could do with some pro-strike votes, bottom of page.

[Organic Revolution]

Moving this to workers actions.

Moved.

[redarmyfaction38]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10, 2007 05:49 pm
Just posted in worker actions, should've looked first sorry.

As wildcats erupt across the UK, the royalmailchat.co.uk forum has obtained a copy of Royal Mail's battle plans for the current negotiations with the CWU.

The document, a powerpoint presentation sent to general managers shortly after further strikes were announced in September, outlines Royal Mail's endgames for the talks. It includes a whole range of measures which postal workers said today would destroy the postal service if brought in.

Highlights include:

- No more negotiations with the CWU on every subject at every level
- No more payments for change
- Flexibilised hours and teamworking
- Shift changes at a moment's notice and annualised hours
- Later start times - the cause of today's unofficial action, part of "Network 2007"
- Changes to the pension scheme (the end of final salary pensions)


Wildcat postal strikes have sprung up around the UK at the end of an official 48-hour Royal Mail walkout.

130,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members returned to work today after the latest four day strikes, but the introduction of later starts by executive action has led to mass walkouts in Glasgow, Lancaster, Liverpool, and London, with more offices to follow.

The wildcat started at district offices throughout Liverpool and soon spread to the main sorting office at Copperas Hill, while workers at branches in east and south London also walked out.

Workers at the Victoria Road office in Glasgow walked out earlier, but are now back at work. Hundreds of workers have been on strike today against the changes, brought in without any consultation, and which also prevent workers from leaving work after completing their deliveries, known as "job and finish".

One postal worker in London commented that these unofficial strikes could lead to all-out action at a national level, given the unpopularity of the late start times and the current mood amongst postal workers who are fighting many other measures as well.

We will update with more news as information comes in.

http://libcom.org/tags/royal-mail

also sky (Fox for those in the US) is running a poll - http://news.sky.com - could do with some pro-strike votes, bottom of page.
talking to my local postie, "wildcat strikes", reflect the feelings of "posties" in general.
they never wanted to suspend action in the first place and are determined to regain the ground lost to management and its "new working practices", whilst "negotiations" took place.

[Bilan]

aye, the same thing is supposed to be happening down here...well, pretty much a National Postie Strike.
dont know how it's going though.

Solidarity!

[Zurdito]

They need to break with Billy Hayes and Dave Ward, who refuse to back wildcat action.

Hayes even thanked gordon Brown at the Labour conference for not privatising Royal Mail. What sort of message does this send? Business across the country is shit scared of a Roayl Mail walkout.

The left needs to urgently organise solidarity commitees and grass roots delegations of the most radicalised branches (Oxford, Stoke, Glasgow, Liverpool, London) above the heads of the bureaucracy.

Seems to me that Hayes will try to save Brown's skin for the next election by going above RoyalMail's heads and letting him come to a "compromise" which will effectively trade jobs for pay.

Instead we need union leaders who will take on the anti-union, organise flying pickets of any scab centres (ie the Royal Mail has provisions for one in North London I believe in the event of an all-out indefinite strike), and unite with other public sector unions to win this battle. Only by making these calls on the union leadership - and making clear when they fail to do what's needed - can we hope to make clear to the most advanced workers the true nature of their leadership - otherwise they'll believe Billy Hayes when he tells them that they can't fight liberalisation.

[Devrim]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12, 2007 11:43 am
They need to break with Billy Hayes and Dave Ward, who refuse to back wildcat action.

It is funny. Back when I was a postman Billy was a Trotskyist.
Devrim

[bolshevik butcher]

Rolling strike action begins again on monday throughout the country. It's always good to at least speak to picket lines and help distribute some of their propaganda.

The Royal Mail has been taken by surprise at how determined the postal workers have been and expected them to break far earlier, they've lost millions and are facing a huge amount or pressure from proivate mail comapnies who'se mail they deliver to get this dispute resolved.

In the wider view though things don't look so optimistic. The Eu has just passed legislation which amounts to the privatisation of Royal Mail, giving the government the excuse it's been looking for for years.

[redarmyfaction38]

Originally posted by bolshevik [email protected] 12, 2007 02:42 pm
Rolling strike action begins again on monday throughout the country. It's always good to at least speak to picket lines and help distribute some of their propaganda.

The Royal Mail has been taken by surprise at how determined the postal workers have been and expected them to break far earlier, they've lost millions and are facing a huge amount or pressure from proivate mail comapnies who'se mail they deliver to get this dispute resolved.

In the wider view though things don't look so optimistic. The Eu has just passed legislation which amounts to the privatisation of Royal Mail, giving the government the excuse it's been looking for for years.
eu legislation means nothing when faced by a group of workers determined to protect their wages and conditions of employment.

really, what can the govt. or the eu do? they are legislative bodies, faced with the mass action of any group of workers they are powerless!

are they gonna send in the troops? how quickly, regardless of the arse licking trade union leaders, would that provoke wider resistance?

are they gonna jail the strikers? bearing in mind, as the bourgeouisie are, how popular the strike is amongst the general public.

this is a fight the workers can win, it has popular support, the lies of govt. and the media are generally being ignored.

ffs! it's postman pat against the evil new labour govt.
even your babies will chuck pennies in the collection box!

[Zurdito]

Originally posted by redarmyfaction38+October 12, 2007 10:05 pm--> (redarmyfaction38 @ October 12, 2007 10:05 pm)
bolshevik [email protected] 12, 2007 02:42 pm
Rolling strike action begins again on monday throughout the country. It's always good to at least speak to picket lines and help distribute some of their propaganda.

The Royal Mail has been taken by surprise at how determined the postal workers have been and expected them to break far earlier, they've lost millions and are facing a huge amount or pressure from proivate mail comapnies who'se mail they deliver to get this dispute resolved.

In the wider view though things don't look so optimistic. The Eu has just passed legislation which amounts to the privatisation of Royal Mail, giving the government the excuse it's been looking for for years.
eu legislation means nothing when faced by a group of workers determined to protect their wages and conditions of employment.

really, what can the govt. or the eu do? they are legislative bodies, faced with the mass action of any group of workers they are powerless!

are they gonna send in the troops? how quickly, regardless of the arse licking trade union leaders, would that provoke wider resistance?

are they gonna jail the strikers? bearing in mind, as the bourgeouisie are, how popular the strike is amongst the general public.

this is a fight the workers can win, it has popular support, the lies of govt. and the media are generally being ignored.

ffs! it's postman pat against the evil new labour govt.
even your babies will chuck pennies in the collection box! [/b]
I'd like to be so optimistic. As it stands, I don't think the CWU leadership has the integrity - intellectually or morally - to lead this struggle to victory. As long as the posties let themselves be lead by Billy Hayes I think they'll just be tailing every move Royal Mail make.

btw, update - Royal Mail is suing the CWU.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle2648683.ece (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article2648683.ece)

[redarmyfaction38]

Originally posted by Zurdito+October 12, 2007 10:09 pm--> (Zurdito @ October 12, 2007 10:09 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 12, 2007 10:05 pm

bolshevik [email protected] 12, 2007 02:42 pm
Rolling strike action begins again on monday throughout the country. It's always good to at least speak to picket lines and help distribute some of their propaganda.

The Royal Mail has been taken by surprise at how determined the postal workers have been and expected them to break far earlier, they've lost millions and are facing a huge amount or pressure from proivate mail comapnies who'se mail they deliver to get this dispute resolved.

In the wider view though things don't look so optimistic. The Eu has just passed legislation which amounts to the privatisation of Royal Mail, giving the government the excuse it's been looking for for years.
eu legislation means nothing when faced by a group of workers determined to protect their wages and conditions of employment.

really, what can the govt. or the eu do? they are legislative bodies, faced with the mass action of any group of workers they are powerless!

are they gonna send in the troops? how quickly, regardless of the arse licking trade union leaders, would that provoke wider resistance?

are they gonna jail the strikers? bearing in mind, as the bourgeouisie are, how popular the strike is amongst the general public.

this is a fight the workers can win, it has popular support, the lies of govt. and the media are generally being ignored.

ffs! it's postman pat against the evil new labour govt.
even your babies will chuck pennies in the collection box!
I'd like to be so optimistic. As it stands, I don't think the CWU leadership has the integrity - intellectually or morally - to lead this struggle to victory. As long as the posties let themselves be lead by Billy Hayes I think they'll just be tailing every move Royal Mail make.

btw, update - Royal Mail is suing the CWU.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle2648683.ece (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article2648683.ece) [/b]
the royal mail can sue the cwu as much as it likes! the "leadership" of the cwu can moan and whinge as much as it likes.
the truth is, the conduct, the furtherance of this strike has passed out of the hands of union "leaders".
the ordinary member has taken control, he cares nothing for the niceities of legislation, he cares even less for the political careerism of union leaders.
this dispute is about him and the public he serves. a massive leap forward in the "consciousness" of a section of the working class.

victory or defeat, a whole section of our class has learned the lessons of experience.
in this case, i believe we are on a winner.
forget the swp, forget the rest of the defeatists, our class consciousness may have been thrown back to the fifties by the defeats of the last thirty years, but it can also move forward fare more quickly.

we have seen, historically, how us revolutionaries can be taken totally by suprise at the rapid rise in militancy and understanding of political consequences by our "less politically aware" fellows.

optimism is the life blood of the struggle mate, without it, why nbother?

[Zurdito]

redarmyfaction, I generally agree with your orientation to the rank and file and building a poltiical block uniting anti-privatisation mebers of the public and public sector workers. but you do have to recognise the very real possibility of this strike losing, due to the fact that the union aparatus - the means of communication for the different workers, the destination of the funds they paid for occassions like this, their portal to communicating with Royal Mail and the govt. etc. - are controlled by the union leaders. These bureaucrats play a double game of retainign legitimacy by some "victories" (or lessening defeats), and this keeps them int he position to carry on monopolising that role, and to keep workers actions within the parameters of the anti-union laws, ie not striking in solidarity, not striking against privatisatin itself, etc. You need to accept the possibility of defeat because then what will you do if they do lose and you've made no preparations for that event?

[bolshevik butcher]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7038899.stm

Looks like it's all over. No exact detials of the agreement but I wouldn't be surprised if the CWU's leadership's back was broaken by the court injunction on monday and tuesday's strike action.

Red Army Faction you are right that if the working class was fully conscious and willing and able to fight this to the end then it could win, that's the foundation of revolutionary socialism. However, as has already been mentioned in the current state of affairs the most militant elements have fought bravely as have the rank and file but the ultimatley unofficial action has been although significant not that wide spread, and I think sadly most of the workers will go with the leadership ultimatley if it has capitulated this time round.

As socialists it is our job to keep raising the arugment in the labour movement of the power of the working class and to intervene and fight for a militant rank and file movmeent backed by a leadership willing to fight that is genuinley recallable and connected to the rank and file.

This fight isn't over, and there are more stirkes scheduled in Britian. Overall I remain fairly optimisitc about developemtns in the Briitsh trade unions.

[redarmyfaction38]

Originally posted by bolshevik [email protected] 12, 2007 10:43 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7038899.stm

Looks like it's all over. No exact detials of the agreement but I wouldn't be surprised if the CWU's leadership's back was broaken by the court injunction on monday and tuesday's strike action.

Red Army Faction you are right that if the working class was fully conscious and willing and able to fight this to the end then it could win, that's the foundation of revolutionary socialism. However, as has already been mentioned in the current state of affairs the most militant elements have fought bravely as have the rank and file but the ultimatley unofficial action has been although significant not that wide spread, and I think sadly most of the workers will go with the leadership ultimatley if it has capitulated this time round.

As socialists it is our job to keep raising the arugment in the labour movement of the power of the working class and to intervene and fight for a militant rank and file movmeent backed by a leadership willing to fight that is genuinley recallable and connected to the rank and file.

This fight isn't over, and there are more stirkes scheduled in Britian. Overall I remain fairly optimisitc about developemtns in the Briitsh trade unions.
i agree, if an agreement has been reached, it's probably at the expense of the most radical workers. however, the employer, would never have shifted from his original position without the intervention of the radical elements of our class.
this is NOT a setback, there a re more s truggles to come.
what is needed. on our part, is a recognition of basic marxist ideology, the whole marxist theory, was based upon the actions of the working class in forward moving revolutionary struggles, it is the working class that will rise to try and overthrow capitalism, it is our role to support that "uprising" and give it a political analysis.
we a re part of the working class,k we are not above it.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

They might find this difficult to sell to the majority, and it certainly does not look promisiing for the union bureaucrats -- the wild cat strikes indicate the members are not push-overs.

[Zurdito]

looks like the union ahs sold the members out; they seem to have reached an agreement which keeps in place the 2.5% pay-rise, pension reform and "flexible" working practices.

[redarmyfaction38]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13, 2007 03:18 pm
looks like the union ahs sold the members out; they seem to have reached an agreement which keeps in place the 2.5% pay-rise, pension reform and "flexible" working practices.
union "leaders" will try to force a compromise on its members, that does not mean the members will accept it; whilst the media are presenting the offer to the postal workers as a climbdown by management, in truth, they are still being offered a wage cut in real terms and a compromise on pension rights as you pointed out, given the present militancy of the strikers, i cannot see this being accepted.
locally, the official strikes have recieved 100% support, the only scabs have been management and reluctantly at that.
the future of this action is firmly in the hands of the postal workers themselves, hopefully they will not be swayed bny the lies of national media or the careerist interests of "national leaders".

[Zurdito]

CWU may leave Labour....


> 14 October 2007
> UNION TO DITCH GORD
> Fury at PM's post strike betrayal 800,000 may quit Labour party
> By Nigel Nelson Political Editor [email protected]
> http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=u...-name_page.html (http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=union-to-ditch-gord&method=full&objectid=19948909&siteid=93463-name_page.html)

[redarmyfaction38]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 08:35 pm
CWU may leave Labour....


> 14 October 2007
> UNION TO DITCH GORD
> Fury at PM's post strike betrayal 800,000 may quit Labour party
> By Nigel Nelson Political Editor [email protected]
> http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=u...-name_page.html (http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=union-to-ditch-gord&method=full&objectid=19948909&siteid=93463-name_page.html)
two strands of political and industrial action occuring today, as more ucw members joined the "unofficial strikes", the cwu "leadership" called off the "official strikes" called for later in the week.
this, imo, is an utter betrayal of the membership of the ucw, it is a last ditch attempt by the ucw leadership, to portray itself as "responsible" in the eyes of the capitalist media and "new labour", whilst its members fully understand what is needed to win this dispute.
hopefully the "unofficial action" will continue to spread.
the ordinary worker on the shop floor has more understanding ofr whats at stake than their "leadership".
could be, living on a postie or counter assistants wages, gives you a better understanding of what's at stake, than living on the salary of a "union leader" or "member of parliament".
or is that too "workerist" or "radical" for some of the "revolutionaries" posting on here?

[Vanguard1917]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 11:19 pm
the ordinary worker on the shop floor has more understanding ofr whats at stake than their "leadership".
could be, living on a postie or counter assistants wages, gives you a better understanding of what's at stake, than living on the salary of a
or is that too "workerist" or "radical" for some of the "revolutionaries" posting on here?
Who suggested that it is?

[redarmyfaction38]

Originally posted by Vanguard1917+October 17, 2007 04:27 pm--> (Vanguard1917 @ October 17, 2007 04:27 pm)
[email protected] 16, 2007 11:19 pm
the ordinary worker on the shop floor has more understanding ofr whats at stake than their "leadership".
could be, living on a postie or counter assistants wages, gives you a better understanding of what's at stake, than living on the salary of a
or is that too "workerist" or "radical" for some of the "revolutionaries" posting on here?
Who suggested that it is? [/b]
without being specific, in order to avoid being accused of "sectarianism", i will answer in general terms.
there are certain members on this board that view any kind of support for "workers actions" outside of the narrow limits of the "political parties" they support, or contradicts their "analysis" of the situation as it stands, as "heresy".

on a board i joined because i believe that "ordinary revolutionaries/marxists/anarchists", can break down "sectarian" barriers and actually take the "movement" forward, i find this particularly irritating.

but again, that's "workerist" innit?