This looks to me like an almighty sell-out by the CWU leadership over the postal dispute. And I agree with David Semple when he writes, I’m also less than impressed by the role of the TUC, which has been seen to pressure the CWU into backing down. The TUC should be voicing full throated support of its member trades unions, not trying to act as some sort of arbiter. It’s not the bloody arbiters’ congress.
More bargain basement ACAS! Yes, you’d expect the TUC to throw itself behind the dispute at the forefront of workers’ solidarity…but hey, this is the TUC…long legacy of sell-outs and sell-outs and sell-outs…
Why suspend strike action now especially with the run up to Xmas? You build on that momentum by putting further pressure on management and Xmas is an apt time to do that! Along with building solidarity and alliances which means not capitulating. And what has Royal Mail agreed to do exactly? And who are making the concessions?
And what the hell does this mean?
It guarantees that Royal Mail will agree change and that workers will get real benefits from the modernisation of the business.
And once Xmas is over, what then???
These are my initial thoughts but will wait and see what else CWU leadership comes out with.
Victory to the postal workers!!
November 8, 2009 at 8:49 pm |
So you don’t understand the deal but you do suggest it is “an almighty sell-out”. Do you usually prefer angry denunciation to analysis?
The deal guarantees that the union will have a modernisation agreement with management. This is a breakthrough.
The deal guarantees that areas where change has been imposed will be reviewed and renegotiated. This is a breakthrough.
Further negotiations will fill out precise terms, but the Postal Executive, which like the rest of the CWU national leadership is left-wing, unanimously supported a deal they do understand.
The issue is not whether more strikes are desirable or necessary. It is whether the deal is acceptable or not.
Your post seems prejudiced against the CWU leadership. Perhaps this leadership – which just defeated privatisation – has secured the victory you desire?
November 9, 2009 at 9:47 am |
Stevie mate, I think we must exist on a parallel universe as I certainly don’t read the ’sell-out’ like you. You seem very confident that the CWU leadership has secured victory.
What a daft time to drop strike action when we are coming up to Xmas… And I certainly don’t believe many posties out there believe this deal is acceptable.
November 9, 2009 at 11:58 am |
No parallel universe – only one deal – the one you accept that you don’t understand. If it is a sell-out then you must explain what is wrong with it.
If strikes are stronger before Xmas then it is right to try and resolve the dispute before Xmas. If it wrong to settle now on this deal then you must explain what should be in the deal that you would settle for. And that settlement must be in line with CWU policy, not your own wishes.
At the moment you appear to be crying “failure”, and waiting for nameless “posties” to explain your cry to you.