National Postal Workers Day: A stage-managed CWU event to cover up collaboration with Royal Mail and EP Group

[stage3]

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/ ... u-d19.html

Tony Robson

The Communications Workers Union’s (CWU) National Postal Workers Day, held on December 15, was a cynical public-relations exercise. It was not aimed at defending postal workers, but at shielding the union apparatus from mounting anger over its collusion in the destruction of jobs, conditions and the Universal Service Obligation (USO).

Headed by General Secretary Dave Ward and his deputy Martin Walsh, the social-media stunt was designed to obscure the leadership’s responsibility for Royal Mail’s wrecking operation under billionaire owner Daniel Ketinsky’s EP Group, backed by the Starmer Labour government.


Martin Walsh, CWU deputy general secretary (postal) in a photo-op during National Postal Workers Day on December 15 displaying the poster with the demeaning message " “A postie is for life, not just for Christmas” [Photo: CWU]
The annual event was timed this year for Christmas. The degraded spectacle included Walsh posing with a CWU poster declaring, “A postie is for life, not just for Christmas”, an insulting reprise of the RSPCA’s appeal not to abandon unwanted pets.

Ward, Walsh and the CWU postal executive have worked with Royal Mail to try and sever the bond between the public and their postal worker. They have trashed the USO, repeating the business mantra that it constitutes an “unfair financial burden.” This has given Royal Mail free licence—minus token financial penalties—to breach statutory mail delivery targets on an industrial scale for three years.

The damage this has inflicted has led to missed medical appointments for thousands, posing risks to patient safety and costing the National Health Service (NHS) an estimated £1 million a year. This dismantling was rewarded by the regulator Ofcom in July, which downgraded the USO to alternate weekday delivery for all mail other than First Class—in time for Kretinsky’s takeover in May.

Postal workers were told to print glossy posters, pose for photographs, and help get #PostalWorkersDay trending. This received pushback from postal workers on the CWU Facebook page:

“My whole office will have between 3-7 days’ mail that day. Still prioritising parcels over mail and yet ANOTHER Christmas that is one huge embarrassing mess.”

“We had two local union reps come to our office on Wednesday, which was probably our busiest day yet. They were walking around asking how we are? I felt this was a right kick in the balls tbh!!! They could see we had packets and mail as far as the eye can see.”

“CWU seem to have given up answering everyone’s concerns. Very quiet. The line between management & union is smudged, you can’t tell the difference now, they all stand around doing nothing.”

From strike betrayal to hashtag “activism”
More than two years after CWU leaders engineered the sellout of the national strike—imposing a two-tier workforce and helping Royal Mail force through Amazon-style terms—postal workers are told the way forward lies in writing to MPs and appealing to the Starmer government facilitating the attacks of big business. The pro-company agreement slashed sick pay, imposed flexible seasonal hours and entrenched parcel prioritisation.

A year on from hailing its “groundbreaking” Framework Agreement with EP Group—bound up with Labour’s Deed of Undertakings rubber-stamping Kretinsky’s £3.6 billion takeover—the CWU claims National Postal Workers Day will “apply pressure” to honour the deal!

The 12-page Framework Agreement delivered everything EP Group demanded: downgrading the mail service, gig-economy conditions and punishing workloads wrapped up in the pro-business jargon of “USO reform.”


Ward and Walsh rammed the agreement through in an August ballot tied to a supposed pay sweetener—a three-year deal below RPI inflation and endorsed by only a third of members as discontent took the form of mass abstention.

Kretinsky has predictably walked away from the pledges used to sell it, including commitments to reverse on an incremental basis the two-tier workforce described as Part 2 of the Framework Agreement.

The CWU posters produced for National Postal Workers Day were designed to draw in some participation by postal workers, but the photo-ops at just over 20 workplaces were a staged-managed affair to keep a lid on real opposition: collective action, workplace meetings to organise resistance to the profit-driven restructuring to defend jobs, terms and safety.

The fraud of “equalisation”
One poster read, “End two tier working – Equalisation Now.” But two-tier working was jointly negotiated, signed and promoted by Ward, Walsh and the postal executive as part of the July 2023 sellout. The deal slashed starting pay to near minimum-wage levels, made Sunday working mandatory and stripped new entrants of hard-won protections. This incentivised management to drive out thousands of “legacy” workers.

The CWU’s proposed “equalisation pathway” requires new entrants to endure inferior pay and terms for three years before parity. With half of starters leaving within a year and over 27,000 quitting since late 2022, most will never qualify. The first step was meant to be agreed in September, with an agreement in December. Neither has materialised.

Optimised Delivery Model: From enforcement to damage control
Another poster read, “No to ODM” (Optimised Delivery Model).

ODM was jointly prepared by Royal Mail executives, Walsh and Divisional Reps in December and rolled out through 35 pilots without any vote or consultation with members. The model collapses duties, forcing three workers to do the work of four, extending walks to five hours or more and increasing call rates by up to 30 percent.


Service update from Royal Mail December 18 issuing a list of disruption to deliveries at well over 100 postcodes nationally citing " local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing or other local factors". A snapshot of the run down of the service and conditions of ill health and overwork brought about by the collusion of the CWU apparatus with management. [Photo: Screenshot: Royal Mail]
Royal Mail workers warned that ODM was unworkable and unsafe, but CWU officials dismissed opposition. They promoted Ofcom’s regulatory cover for cost-cutting of hundreds of millions in “efficiency savings”—money earmarked for EP Group, not service restoration.


Only after widespread anger and operational breakdown did Ward and Walsh begin posturing as critics. Their “sensible alternatives” amount to ODM Mark II: “heavy and light” delivery models, productivity hikes exceeding 10 percent on already impossible workloads and thousands more job cuts as ODM is rolled out to all 1,250 delivery units in the New Year.

CWU bureaucracy: EP Group incorporated
The CWU’s proposal for appeals to MPs, parliamentary briefings and a future Westminster event as the means of defending postal workers is political gaslighting.

This is from a union leadership fully integrated into the corporate-state apparatus overseeing Royal Mail’s restructuring. Under the Framework Agreement, CWU officials have secured formal roles in governance structures, including an advisory position in the corporate boardroom.

Ward and Walsh operate as junior partners of EP Group and reliable allies of the Starmer government. Their refrain—that privatisation is an unchangeable reality—is used to suffocate opposition to a legacy of disaster and ensure further wealth redistribution to the corporate oligarchy while the union bureaucracy functions as an industrial police force.

Media stunts vs workers’ resistance
The focus on posters and photoshoots is an attempt to control the narrative and falsify the record. This mirrors the CWU’s letter-writing campaign to MPs, marketed as “having your say” while excluding any challenge to the union apparatus and its collaboration with EP Group. Despite heavy promotion, only 16,000 postal workers have sent the email scripted by Ward and Walsh, laying bare the disenfranchisement of 130,000 Royal Mail workers.

Postal workers do not need “recognition”. They need an industrial and political strategy to defeat the conversion of the postal service into a low-wage, 24/7 parcel network.

This requires breaking from the pro-company CWU apparatus and transferring power to the shop floor through democratically controlled rank-and-file committees. Only independent organisations can defend jobs, abolish two-tier working, scrap ODM and save the mail service.

This perspective is advanced by the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC), which provides the framework for postal workers to link their struggle with broader opposition to austerity, privatisation and corporate plunder—uniting with NHS, transport, postal and logistics workers in Britain and internationally facing the same onslaught.

The PWRFC was founded in April 2023 against the sellout of the national strike and has exposed the twists and turns of the CWU bureaucracy through to the EP Group takeover. The Starmer government, EP Group and the CWU apparatus have their strategy; it is time postal workers had their own to shape the fight ahead.

[Tman]

You've been trying for long enough and with no success.
Time to give up.

[moon71]

Disappointing article.

Desperation for attention as sure there must be better issues to grumble about. Must be running out of issues to draw attention too.

[stage3]

You've been trying for long enough and with no success.
Time to give up.

Thanks for the backhanded compliment about the staying power of the PWRFC.

It has provided something the CWU never will, a voice for postal workers and a perspective to fight the corporate attacks. That is why many postal workers are asking how Ward and Walsh justify their lavish existence on members fees after one pro-company agreement after another has left a trail of disaster and the one with Kretinsky is shaping up to be on a different magnitude.

You and side kick troll Moon71 can remind everyone who has been proved correct about the ODM - the PWRFC or CWU. We provided an accurate picture from the frontline from day one and enabled those on the pilots to inform their colleagues everywhere about the catastrophe being prepared, it was Walsh who told everyone there was no alternative.

Your message of giving up is pretty much directed to all postal workers to abandon any hope as a result of the CWU led rout.

But the PWRFC will build on what the CWU bureaucrats spend all their waking hours trying to suppress - opposition to the diktats of oligarchy and its so-called right to rinse profits by wrecking the service and destroying the jobs and T&C's of the 130,000 who provide it. Posties just like any other section of workers here and internationally won't take this lying down, struggle will decide and the right leadership.

[Tman]

yep..

[moon71]

You've been trying for long enough and with no success.
Time to give up.

Thanks for the backhanded compliment about the staying power of the PWRFC.

It has provided something the CWU never will, a voice for postal workers and a perspective to fight the corporate attacks. That is why many postal workers are asking how Ward and Walsh justify their lavish existence on members fees after one pro-company agreement after another has left a trail of disaster and the one with Kretinsky is shaping up to be on a different magnitude.

You and side kick troll Moon71 can remind everyone who has been proved correct about the ODM - the PWRFC or CWU. We provided an accurate picture from the frontline from day one and enabled those on the pilots to inform their colleagues everywhere about the catastrophe being prepared, it was Walsh who told everyone there was no alternative.

Your message of giving up is pretty much directed to all postal workers to abandon any hope as a result of the CWU led rout.

But the PWRFC will build on what the CWU bureaucrats spend all their waking hours trying to suppress - opposition to the diktats of oligarchy and its so-called right to rinse profits by wrecking the service and destroying the jobs and T&C's of the 130,000 who provide it. Posties just like any other section of workers here and internationally won't take this lying down, struggle will decide and the right leadership.

Proven bigot. Manipulator of facts. Conveniant with truths depending upon intentions and political end gains.

Everyone knows the facts.

Please don't be shy to slander my name to promote your bigotted campaign. It only gains you more haters, and discredits your noble cause. To think the PWRFC could actually achieve and gain more support without your bigotted hatefull advertising.

[tramssirhc]

Yet another hot take from the WSWS, SEP and rank and file postal workers. Neither Tman or Moon71, if they exist, are truly part of the working class. Let's not forget that Moon71 has flirted with all sorts of bigotted ideas. Have a look at moon71's historical posts. If there is any enemy of the working class here it's Moon71 and it's ilk.

[moon71]

Yet another hot take from the WSWS, SEP and rank and file postal workers. Neither Tman or Moon71, if they exist, are truly part of the working class. Let's not forget that Moon71 has flirted with all sorts of bigotted ideas. Have a look at moon71's historical posts. If there is any enemy of the working class here it's Moon71 and it's ilk.

Absolute moronic reply.

God,if you hate the job and union so much, do us all a favour please. I'm sure you might find happiness somewhere.

You probably rant this crap every moment of your working day trying to promote this as some kind of cult.

[Tman]

are truly part of the working class.

Hmmm..odd logic there.
This constant drip of anti-union propaganda from the usual suspects would indicate to many that Trans and Stage3 are operating some sort of false flag agenda, and are in fact both enemies of the Working Class and worse, subversives in the employ of the Capitalist Classes.
Come clean, you're receiving bribes and booty from management in the name of union breaking.

[stage3]

are truly part of the working class.

Hmmm..odd logic there.
This constant drip of anti-union propaganda from the usual suspects would indicate to many that Trans and Stage3 are operating some sort of false flag agenda, and are in fact both enemies of the Working Class and worse, subversives in the employ of the Capitalist Classes.
Come clean, you're receiving bribes and booty from management in the name of union breaking.

Is that the best you can do. The PWRFC taking "bribes and booty" in the "employ of the Capitalist Classes" . That was what posties were saying about Dave Ward getting his CBE from Starmer if I remember rightly. And CWU officials given a seat in Kretinsky's boardroom, does it get any more blatant than that in terms of being the right hand of management.

Any chance this is classic deflection tactics. Everything we say is backed up factually. You can only deal in smears. Why would the company support a rank and file organisation to oust a bureaucracy it has in its back pocket? Your twisted definition of "anti-union" is a defence of the bureaucracy over workers so their collusion is not disrupted by any exposure ("constant drip") or raising counter demands which start with workers interests not the profits of the shareholders. This you would have it is "subversive" which only shows which side you consider your bread is buttered on.

[tramssirhc]

Yet another hot take from the WSWS, SEP and rank and file postal workers. Neither Tman or Moon71, if they exist, are truly part of the working class. Let's not forget that Moon71 has flirted with all sorts of bigotted ideas. Have a look at moon71's historical posts. If there is any enemy of the working class here it's Moon71 and it's ilk.

Absolute moronic reply.

God,if you hate the job and union so much, do us all a favour please. I'm sure you might find happiness somewhere.

You probably rant this crap every moment of your working day trying to promote this as some kind of cult.

Moon71 is the moron who sold out. The entity that posted about wanting to attack David Ward. Moon71 - every time you attack the working class we'll be here to expose you for what you are.

[tramssirhc]

are truly part of the working class.

Hmmm..odd logic there.
This constant drip of anti-union propaganda from the usual suspects would indicate to many that Trans and Stage3 are operating some sort of false flag agenda, and are in fact both enemies of the Working Class and worse, subversives in the employ of the Capitalist Classes.
Come clean, you're receiving bribes and booty from management in the name of union breaking.

What Tman is really saying here is that any criticism of the CWU is treachery and disloyal. It's not. Critising the CWU and its actions is the right thing to do. The CWU is rotten to the core. Workers deserve better.

[scotchy1962]

are truly part of the working class.

Hmmm..odd logic there.
This constant drip of anti-union propaganda from the usual suspects would indicate to many that Trans and Stage3 are operating some sort of false flag agenda, and are in fact both enemies of the Working Class and worse, subversives in the employ of the Capitalist Classes.
Come clean, you're receiving bribes and booty from management in the name of union breaking.

Is that the best you can do. The PWRFC taking "bribes and booty" in the "employ of the Capitalist Classes" . That was what posties were saying about Dave Ward getting his CBE from Starmer if I remember rightly. And CWU officials given a seat in Kretinsky's boardroom, does it get any more blatant than that in terms of being the right hand of management.

Any chance this is classic deflection tactics. Everything we say is backed up factually. You can only deal in smears. Why would the company support a rank and file organisation to oust a bureaucracy it has in its back pocket? Your twisted definition of "anti-union" is a defence of the bureaucracy over workers so their collusion is not disrupted by any exposure ("constant drip") or raising counter demands which start with workers interests not the profits of the shareholders. This you would have it is "subversive" which only shows which side you consider your bread is buttered on.

Good god you lot are dim, PWRFC are making no effort to gain support within the workforce, in fact they abuse and insult them every chance they get, they have no interest in actually trying to gain a foothold, which in turn leads to people wondering exactly what it is you are after.
Constantly stating the obvious won't get you anywhere and thinking every statement that comes out of your head is fact leads us to wonder if you are all the full shilling.
The company will never support you, not because they have the CWU in their back pocket, it's because you have no support within the workforce and nor are you ever likely to have, which in turn leads to the accusations of being subversive. It's a vicious circle only you can fix by actually trying to become what you say you want to be......... a union.

[Tman]

What Tman is really saying here is that any criticism of the CWU is treachery and disloyal. It's not. Critising the CWU and its actions is the right thing to do. The CWU is rotten to the core. Workers deserve better.

Cease your collaborationist whimpering. You and your treacherous anti-union anti-Working Class cohorts' plot has been uncovered, luckily before any harm could be done.
Bosses dupes. Shame on you for selling out your own comrades.

[stage3]

What Tman is really saying here is that any criticism of the CWU is treachery and disloyal. It's not. Critising the CWU and its actions is the right thing to do. The CWU is rotten to the core. Workers deserve better.

Cease your collaborationist whimpering. You and your treacherous anti-union anti-Working Class cohorts' plot has been uncovered, luckily before any harm could be done.
Bosses dupes. Shame on you for selling out your own comrades.

Tman seems to have been watching too much Scooby Doo - him, Moon71 and Scotchy have scuppered a fiendish plot by the PWRFC.

Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief now. Normal service can be resumed, there is nothing to prevent Ward & Co from going from one ground breaking agreement after another in safeguarding jobs and T & C's of postal workers.

Gentlemen you are the very definition of delusional. I credit people with seeing through your hysterical lies regarding who is really lined up with management and working in the service of the company and why you feel the need to devote so much of your time to proving the irrelevance of the PWRFC.