29.08.1996

CWU turning point

The Communication Workers Union postal executive has stepped back from the threatened escalation of its strikes against Royal Mail’s ‘teamworking’ attacks. It has dropped plans for a four-day walkout this weekend and reverted to two separate 24-hour strikes on Friday and Monday, following management’s decision to resume negotiations.

Despite RM and government propaganda to the contrary, support for the action remains solid. Billy Strange, assistant central secretary of Manchester CWU branch, told me that almost 100% of his members were taking part, and last week’s strike was the best yet. “The membership is fully behind the EC,” he said.

Union officials in Cardiff say that out of 2,100 members there are only five scabs. Steve Bell, SE Wales Amalgamated branch secretary, said:

“There was no great reaction either way to the scaling down of this weekend’s action. The escalation was threatened if Royal Mail did not come back to the negotiating table. This week is obviously a turning point: either there will be a settlement or a serious escalation.”

Asked whether that might mean a drop in support, he replied: “There will be no problem here. We have been arguing all along that the action should be stepped up. It all depends on whether the EC stands firm.”

After several years of piecemeal attacks on postal workers’ conditions, Royal Mail is attempting to impose its authority over all aspects of working practices through its ‘teamworking’ scheme.

Peter Manson