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From The Socialist newspaper, 27 November 2019
Posties withdraw goodwill from cruel bosses
Mayola Demmenie, Basingstoke Socialist Party
A postie spoke to a Basingstoke Socialist Party public meeting about the dispute in Royal Mail, and the consequences if we don't fight, on Wednesday 20 November. We met with around ten people, of which most were local postal workers.
The Communication Workers Union rep told us about management's bullying culture - and that since the High Court deemed the union's strike ballot illegal, the goodwill has gone. More and more workers who never used to take their breaks and always did overtime now don't want to do that anymore, and have started to take their breaks. When the discussion opened up, we heard more stories - of three dismissals in a week, for example. People have had enough.
Not only could 40,000 postal workers lose their job, but the public will lose a community service. The rep told us how one postie up north knocked on the door of a regular customer to hear the lady call her in.
Turned out this lady had cancer and just needed a chat. If new Royal Mail boss Rico Back gets his way, this lady won't have anyone to talk to. Yodel and Amazon drivers can't get to know their customers like that.
Letters could cost £3 to send, with no guarantee of being delivered next day. Again the elderly and vulnerable will be hit hardest, as NHS appointment letters might sometimes arrive weeks later.
It was clear that the workers see collective action is needed, along with solidarity from workers in other sectors.
Local Socialist Party member and long-standing trade unionist Mick Butler had opened the meeting by calling for unity of all workers to fight collectively against low pay, long hours and bullying management.
It is vital to fight together for a Corbyn government in this election - and if he wins fight even harder to get the manifesto implemented, because the capitalist establishment will do whatever it takes to undermine and destroy it.
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In The Socialist 27 November 2019:
What we think
Labour's manifesto: fight to transform hope into a socialist society
International socialist news and analysis
Regime's fuel price rise sparks massive protests across Iran
Sri Lanka: Presidential election sees return of dictatorial Rajapaksa clan
News
Tory election campaign's dirty tricks and lies
Resist attacks against free speech on campus
Northern Ireland: strike action by NHS workers
Prince Andrew outrage exposes establishment
Council cuts
End council cuts now, to end Tory austerity!
Workplace news
Uni strike takes fight to bosses
CWU's right to defend members is on the line
South Western Railway strike: "We're up for the fight"
PCS union ballot closes 12 December: Marion Lloyd for general secretary
Sixth-form college strikes: 'Sticking two fingers up at the Tories'
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Trump and Tories are a threat to environment
Brighton anti-academy campaign steps up
Posties withdraw goodwill from cruel bosses
Help fund the fightback: sponsor my marathon
Buy a historical biography for Christmas
Readers' opinion
The private sector will never provide broadband to every home, nationalisation will
Plymouth Blairites side with anti-tenant landlords
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