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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/17285

Posted on 28 August 2013 at 10:12 GMT

Royal Mail's Coventry North Delivery Office taking 24-hours of strike action on Tuesday 27 August., photo Dave Nellist (Click to enlarge)

No one crosses Royal Mail Coventry North picket line - except managers

Workers at Royal Mail's Coventry North delivery office took strike action on Tuesday 27th August, over the local management team's treatment of the workforce.

This is just the latest example of postal workers taking action as a result of local managers' actions.

For several months now, up and down the country, Royal Mail managers have been using intimidation and threats towards workers in a drive to save money.

National agreements have been ignored, mail traffic figures have been 'massaged' and a climate of fear instilled, all to ensure that staff 'absorb' more and more work.

Such is the scale of the problem of bullying and harassment that the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) has appointed an independent body to go in to workplaces and interview staff about their experiences.

As one worker on the picket line said: "I'm part-time and I'm on a rolling contract. Some of us were taken to one side the other day and told by a manager, 'If you go on strike, don't worry, it won't affect your chances of having your contracts renewed!' They were nice about it but there was a veiled threat there".

Strike action at Royal Mail's Coventry North Delivery Office 27.8.13 (Click to enlarge)

Tuesday's action was a statement by the workers at Coventry North that enough is enough and management need to enter into meaningful negotiations with local CWU reps to find a resolution to the issues in that particular office.

Supporters attending the picket line included union members from Unison, PCS, NUT and Unite. Several workers from Coventry's South delivery office also came to support their colleagues, after finishing their night shift.

The picket line was 10-15 strong all morning, with no one crossing - apart from loads of managers, all driving BMW cars! As one worker said: "It's us who are paying for those cars. We have to work harder so the managers can have bigger bonuses and better motors!"

Coventry North branch members

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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.