Anger at Leighton, Crozier and Brown

ACROSS TYNESIDE the strike was solid. One picket commented: "The strike is 100%. Nobody went in. We've got massive support from the public." Derek Fallon, sub union rep of Gateshead, told the socialist: "Leighton is out to privatise Royal Mail. He sold off Asda and made a fortune for himself. His idea will be to sell off Royal Mail to competitors… Royal Mail's intention is to cut 40,000 jobs then get the rest of us to cover at no extra cost."

Elaine Brunskill, Tyneside Socialist Party

At the Gateshead delivery office Micky Burns talked of the importance of escalating the strike: "Royal Mail wants to break the union, and demoralise the workforce."

A striker at the Tyneside Mail Centre commented that Crozier's wife sits on the board of Reed Employment Agency which has supplied scab labour to Royal Mail!

Alongside anger towards Leighton and Crozier, there is also growing anger at the pernicious role of the Labour Party. Jimmy White, a sub area delivery rep, commented: "Hundreds of thousands of pounds of our money has gone into the Labour Party but they are ignoring us." He added: "When the Northern Rock was in trouble they rallied around them. Why can't they do the same for us?"

Derek Fallon commented: "The Labour Party is now a disguised Tory Party, and it's no good looking towards the Liberal Democrats. There's got to be a different party for workers."

At the Valley delivery office Michael Farrell told the socialist: "CWU money to the Labour Party should have been withdrawn a long time ago. That money wields no influence whatsoever. Instead of supporting workers New Labour is in a head-long rush to support big business. Ten years after being elected New Labour still haven't taken away any of Thatcher's anti-trade union laws."

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Finance appeal

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.