CWU conference: Preparing to fight post privatisation

[topgeezer]

by Yuri Prasad

The government is set to try to sell off Royal Mail once again, it announced this week.

Postal workers rightly fear privatisation will lead to a further attack on their jobs, pay and conditions—and postal services will suffer.

Dave Ward, deputy leader of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), this week told delegates to his union’s conference to prepare for a massive fight over the issue.

He reminded the government that the union had defeated three previous attempts to privatise Royal Mail, including one pushed by Labour and Lord Mandelson last year.

Ward also told delegates to expect an attempt to raid Royal Mail pensions.

He warned ministers that the union is “battle-hardened, not battle weary” and that he would “not hesitate” to use industrial action to defend his members.

But others in the leadership made it clear that they wanted a political campaign, and did not see industrial action as central.

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said that winning Labour MPs to oppose the government’s plans was the crucial first step, and that it might not be possible to formulate an industrial dispute against privatisation.

But some senior union activists disagree.

Lee Barron, the union’s Midlands regional secretary, told Socialist Worker that privatisation would result in a “race to the bottom” as Royal Mail’s competitors sought to undercut the firm.

“Strikes are a crucial way of defending ourselves,” he said. “I don’t see any difficulty in forming a legitimate industrial dispute to protect our jobs, wages and conditions.”

“We cannot simply rely on politicians to protect Royal Mail. The best people to do that are members, because we deliver the service.”

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http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=21348

[Dogs of War]

There is only one winner Royal Mail. The CWU will not win this fight even the Queen give the go ahead in her speech during the week.

[DirtyHarry]

What the hell planet is Ward on? Can somebody tell me? Royal Mail is privatised in all but name as it is. Or, has the last eight years been just a bad nightmare?

[maisymoo04]

ITS GOT SOD ALL TO DO WITH THE QUENN WHAT DOES SHE DO SIT ON HERE ARSE DOIN SOD ALL AND WE PAY FOR THEM ALL TO GO OUT AND GET PISSED AND FALL OVER IN THE STREET COMING OUT OFF NIGHT CLUBS

[maisymoo04]

SOZ I MEANT QUEEN

[DGP1]

SOZ I MEANT QUEEN

I thought Freddie was deceased

[maisymoo04]

dgp so funny pal haha

[dounome]

CWU couldnt even get a decent deal for us after months so i guess i can look forward to privatisation if they are involved, they couldnt fight b.....r all

[TrueBlueTerrier]

There is only one winner Royal Mail. The CWU will not win this fight even the Queen give the go ahead in her speech during the week.

Sorry the Queen did not "give the go ahead in her speech" for 3 important reason.

1. The speech is written usually at the behest of the Prime Minister and his cabal, she has no input in it at all.
2. She is not allowed under the constitution to make any Political Statements without Government approval and is never allowed to voice her own opinion on any political matter.
3. She only has one job under our current democracy in that when she signs any bill it is only then it becomes law, I believe she does have the option of refusing but that would cause a constitutional crises of immense proportions so she is unlikely to refuse to sign any proclamation making RM a private company.