join those striking back against tory austerity

ow 125,000 postal workers in the CWU have begun the ballot for national strikes. Its vital we go all out to build a massive YES vote. This could a turning point in the fight over privatisation, workload, pensions and pay. Hard hitting strikes can win. Part of building the YES vote has to be developing pressure to ensure we get the kind of action that can win. Opposition to privatisation must remain at the heart of the campaign. Workers terms at TNT, Royal Mails private sector rival, shows what is at stake. TNT pay is 4.25 an hour less than basic pay for Royal Mail delivery staff. Many TNT workers are on zero hour contracts. In Royal Mail we are guaranteed a minimum number of hours. Everyone knows bosses will try and wear down our union once we are in the private sector. No wonder the lies we are told in the company briefings we all have to attend go down like a lead balloon. Our chief executive, Moya Greene, has offered every worker 2,000 worth of sharesworth far less after tax. We should remember what happened to Royal Mails Colleague Share bonus system. It was scrapped and we all lost hundreds of poundsdespite meeting the companys targets. Who was behind that robbery? Why, Moya Greene, of course.

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At the policy forum, reps passed amendments committing union leaders to put any offer to a policy forum/ special conference. If bosses dont back down after the ballot result, strike dates must be named quickly. Strikes are the most effective way to hit Royal Mail bossses and the Tories. CWU should throw everything at this fight, and look to coordinate with others striking.

Opportunity

Hovis workers who beat Zero Hours through strikes bring solidarity to striking fire fighters

Miliband

The 2,000 strong reps meeting last month sent a clear message that members are ready to strike. Reps booed, heckled and laughed when Moya Greene disgracefully claimed the pay offer is fair and theres no need for strikes. From the floor it was stressed that we need a serious campaign of national strikes to win. CWU general secretary Billy Hayes was right to attack Milibands speech at the TUC and condemned Labour for not pledging to renationalise Royal Mail. Miliband has shifted. Labour has stated that it should renationalise Royal Mail as well as getting rid of the hated Bedroom Taxa clear result of pressure from below. Deputy general secretary Dave Ward confirmed that if the CWU calls a 24 hour national strike then it will call a national demonstration and mobilise coaches. This has the potential to be a massive campaign, centred on defending public services against privatisation, as well as workers rights.

These issues are instrinsically linked. Now every member should get round their workplace and fight to build the biggest YES vote possible. Activists should organise meetings where members can bring ballot papers and vote together to launch the campaign. East Oxford delivery office are showing how to start the ballot with a bangtheyre on strike today. Weve seen inspiring strikes at Bridgwater delivery office against bullying management, as well as disputes in Plymouth and Weston-Super-Mare. The CWU has an opportunity to stop privatisation, challenge the workload issues and win decent pay and pensions. But, as reps have warned, there cannot be a re-run of the last national dispute in 2009, which was called off just as strikes had Royal Mail bosses on the ropes at the height of the busy Christmas period. Since then theres been three years of modernisation changes, massively increasing workload.

The massive march on the Tories in Manchester can give confidence to everyone looking for more resistance. Postal workers will not be fighting alone. Hundreds of thousands of teachers plan strikes over pay while lecturers in the UCU are moving into battle. Firefighters struck on 25 September and PCS members are consulting on how to take their industrial action forward. All these fights must come together. We need networks in every area to develop pressure for the strikes that can win, and to fight for deeper, coordinated resistance in the future.

Unite the Resistance National Conference: Organising to Win

Sat 19 Oct: 12 - 5pm
@Bloomsbury Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H

Speakers: Billy Hayes CWU general secretary;

Jeremy Corbyn MP; Ronnie Draper bakers union general secretary; Frank Morris, Crossrail dispute; plus speakers from disputes at Wigan Hovis; One Housing; Glasgow social care workers; and more

Book online/more info@ uniteresist.org

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