24.10.1996

Two votes for Labour

The result of the ballot of post office workers, due to be announced next week, is expected to give the Communications Workers Union a fresh mandate for strike action.

Despite intense Royal Mail propaganda and a low-key CWU campaign, both management and the union are preparing for renewed negotiations following the likely narrow ‘yes’ vote. The post office has been giving dire warnings of the loss of 30,000 jobs over the next five years. That would result from the ending of Royal Mail’s letters monopoly, if it was hit by further strikes. Better to accept ‘team-working’ with its attacks on working conditions and union rights, argue the RM propagandists.

While the majority of the CWU executive, unlike joint general secretary Alan Johnson, are opposed on principle to the ‘teamworking’ attacks, many share his concern that more strikes might damage New Labour, which wants nothing to do with workers taking action together to defend their own interests. So, with the TUC and Labour Party conferences fast approaching, they suspended the action last month and called a fresh ballot to give “an opportunity to the employer - as well as the union - to settle this dispute without further disruption to the service” (CWU Voice October 1996).

Johnson hoped that Labour’s blushes could be spared by a membership, demoralised by the prospect of endless one-day strikes, voting to reject further action. In the event of a ‘yes’ vote, there is still the possibility that Royal Mail will offer just enough concessions to finally enable him to persuade the EC to recommend acceptance.

Meanwhile, CWU members have been receiving a different set of ballot papers. At huge expense, despite Tony Blair’s support for Royal Mail in the current dispute, the entire membership is being asked, along with many other affiliated unions, to endorse the Labour Party’s manifesto. According to Johnson and joint general secretary Tony Young,

“[Labour’s] proposals reflect the enduring values of the trade union movement ... We cannot stress how important it is to use your vote” in what is “a genuine attempt to stay in touch with its grass roots membership.”

This ‘consultation’ exercise allows union members to give a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote to the statement, “I support Labour’s manifesto, new Labour - new life for Britain”. One little caveat though: in order to vote, members must “confirm that I support the Labour Party and am not a member or supporter of any other party”. I have a sneaking suspicion that this ballot will receive a much bigger ‘yes’ percentage than the recommendation to strike.

And that, of course, is just what Alan Johnson is hoping for.

Peter Manson