The issue behind the ballot was cuts. The last time our union took industrial action was in 2007. When we went back there were 4 phases to the agreement that was signed. Phases 1 and 2 have gone through. Phase 3 is currently being implemented and is being met with stiff resistance. If a worker doesn’t turn up for work unforeseen, the others have to cover their duty – and we don’t get paid for it!
When we’ve had job cuts in the past we’ve shared some of the savings. 50% goes to the workers and 30% to management. Royal Mail wants to end all that, just cut jobs and not give the remaining workers anything in return for the increased workload.
The ballot result was not announced as a London–wide result, as it has been in the past. The Financial Times reported, “Postal workers in London have voted 9-1 in favour of striking over jobs and cost savings, threatening disruption to mail at a time when the political dispute over the part-privatisation of Royal Mail is coming to a head. The Communication Workers Union said its members in the capital had overwhelmingly backed strikes over "arbitrary" cuts.” In my office (W1) 335 voted for strike action with just 23 against.
London voted individually for strike action office by office. In the past some weaker areas hid behind the more militant offices. This time no shop steward could hide. You have to persuade your members to vote for the strike. Union material advocating a vote for strike action emphasised that if your office records a ‘no’ vote, Royal Mail will target you for cuts first.
The specific issue behind the call for a ballot is that management are breaking the industrial relations framework. They are just taking executive action. For instance they unilaterally imposed action at Mount Pleasant a couple of weeks ago – just allocated duties to workers without any consultation. The vast majority of workers in depots all over London have refused to sign for duties when dealt with in this manner.
Management strategy is to pick on the weakest areas first. They are already after my area, W1.They’ll be taking executive action in WC postal district next week. In W1 they intend to take out 68 duties out of about 350 workers. I believe they are after eliminating 44 duties with a roughly similar work force in WC. We believe that is completely unworkable apart from anything else. But that is the scale of the cuts that are being contemplated.
In the past they covered most of the cuts through natural wastage. But, because of the recession, that is not going to be enough. Not many are taking early voluntary redundancy.
They want to make a lot of jobs in London part time. This is already the case outside London, for instance in Manchester and Portsmouth. They are aiming for a 60:40 full time/part time ratio, but London as a strong division of the Union is resisting this.
Another thing they are proposing is automation of the sorting process. That would decimate the night staff. Basically they want to turn Royal Mail into the equivalent to the Dutch postal service, run by TNT. They sort the post automatically, then send it to points where it is delivered by housewives and students. That makes it very hard to unionise the postal workers.
This strike ballot, and the trouble we’re having in London, is bound to be an issue at CWU Conference, due in a week’s time. The trouble is, some of the London activists don’t want to go to Bournemouth. They know that if they’re away, that’s exactly when management will take executive action and stage a confrontation.
Some of our union leaders are reluctant to back strike action. They are trying to get the support of Labour MPs in the campaign against the privatisation of Royal Mail, and they reckon a strike would rock the boat. But it’s the only language management understands. We’re also angry because we’re all on a pay freeze while Adam Crozier, Royal Mail chief executive, is getting a £750,000 bonus this year. He’s also had his gold-plated pension package doubled.
Presley Antoine, Communication Workers’ Union, London West End Amalg. Branch.
Read ‘Fight to keep the Post Office public’ by clicking here
Socialist Appeal interviews Brendon Allen, Communication Workers’ Union Branch Secretary, Worcester
Stop Royal Mail Sell-Off Madness
