Posties refuse to deliver BNP leaflets
Below is an article by a Liverpool Postal Worker on the growing refusal of CWU members to deliver BNP material for the upcoming European elections.
Postal workers across the country are once again refusing to deliver BNP European Election leaflets. The national press are telling readers that this is because staff who deliver to areas where black or Asian people live might feel threatened while out on delivery. While there may be some truth in this, it misses the point that many white people are offended by the policies of the BNP, including postal staff.
Royal Mail are contracted to deliver election material for all parties standing in the European Elections and in the past have had to hire temporary staff when Royal Mail employees have refused to handle BNP material.
BNP spokesman John Walker said “We will be monitoring all the areas to make sure we get the right coverage. It’s not for postal workers to pick and choose which election leaflets they hand out.”
John Walker is wrong. Postal staff have always had the right to refuse to deliver material they find personally offensive. This ‘conscience clause’ is one reason why pornographic literature is sent out in plain envelopes.
Royal Mail check the content of election leaflets, but in the case of the BNP it is not so much what their leaflet says,(similar tripe can be found in any right-wing tabloid) but what that particular party stands for.
Postal staff are hardly among the highest paid members of society so turning down an average of £20 extra per delivery is not a decision which is lightly taken, but as one postman in the North West said, “There are more important things in life than money and I couldn’t live with myself if I delivered leaflets for a party which promotes racist ideas. West Country postal staff have described the leaflet as “Right-wing rubbish!”
Whatever the faults of the Communication Workers Union in not pushing for better working conditions of its members, it cannot be faulted in its opposition to racism in general and the BNP in particular. The CWU are citing the ‘conscience clause’ and supporting members who refuse to deliver the BNP leaflets.
Staff who decide not to deliver election leaflets should inform their local CWU rep and their Line Manager. Remember, you are entitled to refuse to deliver any item of mail which goes against your beliefs and/or conscience.
the management at Bridgewater and nationally on the Post have had to concede that posties have the right to refuse to deliver BNP literature – NO PLATFORM in action, tho i am unsure how this fits in with the CPGB/Communist Students’ view on “absolute democracy” – are you comrades in favour of NO PLATFORM for fascists, who ARE part of the ‘bourgeois’-democratic society that we have here? real question! also, what about NO PLATFORM ‘ on the streets?
Any CS comrades coming to Birmingham for the Unite demo?
Steve, I will be at the demo tomorrow, look for a lot of ginger hair.
On No Platform, I am for No Platform and so is the CPGB/CS in varying degrees the difference we have with the majority of the Left is one whether it is a principle. Everyone in CS hold in common that it is a tactic and not a principle, there are questions and debates on when it is advisable to use and whether we can debate the BNP etc.
There is also a wider debate on whether the BNP can be categorised as fascist, as I expect you are aware of.
I think such action by the posties is absolutely correct and something we should agitate and encourage. We are however against censorship by the state as any laws against the far right will be used against the workers’ movement.
Just to point out that the leaflet concerned may actually be illegal as well which then throws up the question – who at Royal Mail agreed to deliver it. It has been reported to the ASA and the Comm for racial equality . It states that “british soldiers are attacked on the streets of our cities by Muslims” hance the illegality. Let Royal mail hear your voice at
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump3?catId=400144&mediaId=15400382
MG, it would be wrong to call on the state to ban BNP literature or ban the BNP itself. Any laws or sanctions against the far right will be used against the workers’ movement much more.