Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/478/2187
From The Socialist newspaper, 15 March 2007
Staffs postal workers say:
Reinstate Dave Condliffe now
Vote 'yes' to widen the strike action
No to management intimidation
Postal workers at the Burslem depot in Stoke have taken one week's strike action to call for the reinstatement of sacked postal worker Dave Condliffe. The strike was solid.
Andy Bentley, Stoke Socialist Party
Postal workers across north and mid-Staffordshire are incensed at Dave's sacking on trumped up charges of aggressive behaviour to a manager. Postal workers regularly suffer intimidation from a bullying management. Dave, 62, has an exemplary record of 13 years as a postman, not having even one day's sick leave in all that time.
Evidence given by two members of the public, stating that Dave was abused by a manager, has been disregarded by Royal Mail. Ordinary people will be angry to hear that Royal Mail is prepared to ignore them in this way.
In reality Dave was sacked because he committed the same 'crime' as 700 other postal workers: the strike action before Christmas which successfully stopped Royal Mail from imposing part-time working for full-time workers in the area. Royal Mail bosses have sacked Dave as an act of revenge to try to re-establish their 'authority' over workers.
But their tactic of bullying and victimising staff is also part of a wider strategy dictated by the New Labour government to soften up the workforce in preparation for further running down of the service and privatisation. This must be fought by all postal workers. Companies are being encouraged to compete with Royal Mail while others queue up to take a share of the billions of pounds to be made out of a fully privatised postal service.
To make it even more profitable for them New Labour are trying to cow the workforce with a bullying regime, thousands of jobs losses and attacks on pay and conditions.
Royal Mail bosses have got away with bullying tactics for long enough. It is time to fight back and postal workers in Burslem have started that fight.
The successful one week strike must be built on. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is now to ballot postal workers throughout north and mid-Staffordshire for further strike action. A widespread and energetic campaign for a 'yes' vote would win the support of the vast majority of postal workers in the area.
Sign the online petition at www.stokesocialistparty.org.uk
Send messages of support and donations to: CWU Midland No 7, Lindsay Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 4EP. Fax 01782 272978, telephone 01782 285833, email area.delivery@cwumid7.org.uk with a copy sent to andybentley3 @tiscali.co.uk
Email or send letters of protest to: Allan Leighton, Chairman of Royal Mail, at allan.leighton @royalmail.com or Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of Royal Mail, 148 Old Street, London EC1V 9HQ.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 15 March 2007:
£billions for rich... Pennies for us!
Socialist Party NHS campaign
UNISON Health group votes for summer demo
Socialist Party news and analysis
Lambeth council attacks services for vulnerable people
Barking BNP don't oppose council cuts
Lewisham council's outrageous attack
Kurdish asylum seekers living in fear
Northern Ireland and Scotland
Northern Ireland Assembly elections: Another sectarian headcount...
We Won't Pay Campaign conference success
Solidarity builds party profile ahead of elections
Marxist analysis: history
February revolution 1917 - what lessons for today?
International socialist news and analysis
US continues threats over Iran's nuclear ambitions
Iraq war: Convicted Bush official is 'fall guy' over WMD scandal
International Women's Day
Celebrating International Women's Day
Housing
Tenants vote no to council housing sell-off
Market-driven 'social housing' threatens tenants
Environment and socialism
Will government plans stop climate change?
Socialist Students
Build the campaign to defeat fees
International Socialist Resistance (ISR) and Socialist Students conference
Campaign for a New Workers Party
Trade Unions and the Labour Party: CWU branch asks some awkward questions
Campaign for a New Workers' Party conference
Workplace news and analysis
UNISON leaders lead members into dead end
PCS prepares for more struggles
Right wins lecturers' union leadership - on a 14% turnout
Home | The Socialist 15 March 2007 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
