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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1153/33227
From The Socialist newspaper, 27 October 2021
Photo: Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Former Royal Mail worker
Despite the promise of benefiting delivery workers’ conditions, the rollout of the ‘Pathway to Change Agreement’ between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is proving to be the opposite
At Wakefield Delivery Office, West Yorkshire, the agreement rollout of a structural revision resulted in 94% of the workforce voting it down, after it produced unachievable workloads.
However, true to form, management imposed it regardless, leaving the CWU as the only side to stick to the deal. That leaves the very principle of workers’ democracy in tatters, and does not protect postal workers open to management bullying, as they are scapegoated for the delay to mail.
This deal was supposed to recover what the union lost under Rico Back’s tenure as CEO, when the employer reneged on the previous agreement.
In practice, it has not stopped the employer reverting to type and effectively draining substantially more work out of delivery staff when the working week is due to be reduced by an hour. Unbelievably, that means doing more than before, when they have an hour less to do it in!
So far, the only thing that appears to have been held to is the 2.7% pay rise given this year. The further 1% next year, a promise of no compulsory redundancies, and a legal obligation to prevent the company breaking up are yet to be carried through.
It is obvious from its actions that Royal Mail is not sticking to the agreement and the CWU must suspend these revisions and urgently move to halt the management bullying that has come with them. Policy to remedy the whole situation must be made.
The general public must also be made aware of Royal Mail’s drive for profit in the booming packets and parcels market. Forsaking a reliable letter delivery service, in the process, it significantly delays the likes of hospital appointment notices and other vital mail as manpower is under-resourced.
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party’s material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers’ movements with a socialist programme – one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 27 October 2021:
Budget
TORY BUDGET CON
Public spending under further threat from Tories
Tory NHS funding won’t fix staff shortage
Public sector pay thaw – union fight is on for a real rise and funding
Fighting sexual harassment
Fighting sexism and harassment, and for a safe night out
Climate change
Tory climate plans set to fail – socialist planning needed
COP26: protest for Socialist change to reverse climate chaos
Youth climate protests
News in brief
Workplace news
Unite policy conference
Gwent Stagecoach workers driving for victory on pay
Clarks shoe workers strike to give ‘fire and rehire’ the boot
Royal Mail workers stand against ‘unachievable workloads’
GPs vote to reject government plans
Workplace news in brief
Campaigns
The fight for Hackney’s children’s centres continues
Southampton People’s budget Building an alternative to Tory and Labour austerity
Save Southall youth centre – stop all cuts
Carlisle says make the richest pay, not the poorest!
International
Military coup in Sudan – Defiant masses take to the streets
Readers’ opinion
TV review Maid
TV review The Riots 2011: One Week in August
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