A Labour Party leaflet, outlining its policies on the NHS, was delivered to many homes by Royal Mail workers in January. Many politically conscious workers in the CWU postal union questioned the leaflet’s content.
It had no reference to Private Finance Initiative (PFI) – implemented by Labour – which contributes heavily to the crippling debts of many NHS institutions.
There was also no apology for Labour’s part in privatising NHS Hinchingbrooke, which failed dramatically and highlighted the need for NHS services to remain out of private hands.
Using Twitter, I posted a photo of the leaflet with a comment pointing out that Labour didn’t mention PFI.
Labour made an official com-plaint so I became disciplined under Royal Mail’s code of conduct!
They swiftly looked at this complaint despite it being of a political, not industrial nature. I have been ‘warned’ about my conduct and given ‘guidance’ on the use of social media.
The sick irony is that the person filing the complaint is paid by the Labour Party.
As a member of the CWU, a Labour-affiliated trade union, a political levy is taken from my subs of which large amounts are paid to the Labour Party. So, in effect, I am paying the person who made the complaint that forced me into disciplinary procedures!
I have since written to my CWU branch secretary, asking for my membership (which currently includes the political levy) to be changed to non-levy paying status. Labour supporters are clearly monitoring the comments of genuine socialists – perhaps they are searching for genuine policies on matters such as the NHS!
