Liverpool postie Dave Carr explains why students should back the Postal Strike and build solidarity on campus.

1. Why are postal workers striking?

The reason the CWU are giving is because Royal Mail are failing to honour the agreement struck to end the 2007 strikes. Many changes have been made, but Royal Mail now wishes to push through changes which have not been agreed with the CWU. Royal Mail says they have completed the changes for this year. This is not the case and at local level, managers are constantly overriding agreements.
A big part in workers deciding to vote for strike action is the high level of bullying and harassment by local managers and even acting managers who are members of the CWU. Macho management, leaning on part-timers and new entrants to complete overloaded deliveries without booking any overtime and making derogatory remarks about older staff who are naturally slower than younger workers is now a normal part of working life in Royal Mail.

2. Will it not damage the Royal Mail through lost business? And will it not hurt the customers not the Royal Mail bosses?

There is the possibility that business will be lost, but in recent years Royal Mail has stopped collecting from postboxes on Sundays, Bank Holidays and midweek mornings. They have abolished the second delivery, introduced later start times and by only recruiting workers on part-time contracts, ensured longer is spent on sorting which has the effect of making deliveries even later. If Royal Mail was really interested in keeping business and giving the customer the service they have had for generations, they should realise these changes are driving customers away, not the occasional one day strike.

3. Should students take temporary jobs during the strike period and over the Winter?

Historically, Royal Mail has always recruited temporary staff in the lead up to Christmas. With the introduction of mechanical sorting and ‘facing and stamping’ there have been far fewer opportunities for temporary staff in the last twenty years or so. If the strikes are over by December, I don’t see why students shouldn’t make some Christmas spending money. However, I would ask students not to take temporary jobs during the period of the strikes. Royal Mail tried to recruit students from the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and other universities during the 2007 strikes. They got very few volunteers. Postal workers realise the financial strain students are under since the abolition of the Grant and the introduction of loans by the Labour Government. Few of us will forget the sacrifice those students and Polish agency staff made when they refused to break our strike back then.

4. Why should students support the strike?

If we lose, it would be a boost to bosses who would destroy the conditions we and those workers who went before us have fought for. When I left school in 1971, hardly anyone I knew went on to university or higher education of any sort. These days, there are many more students from working class backgrounds taking degree courses. We should be standing shoulder to shoulder against our common enemy. There is an out of date attitude held by many workers that students are a privileged middle-class elite. All public service workers, nurses, transport workers, call centre workers, teachers, factory workers, immigrant workers, retail workers and students are all in this together. Bosses don’t like a united front, so don’t let them drive a wedge between us. We are all victims of capitalist greed, let’s fight back now!

5. How can students help postal workers?

Wherever possible, get along to your nearest picket line and introduce yourselves. Talk to postal workers and explain the fact that you will leave with huge debts just because you wish to have the education the boss class and their worthless offspring take for granted. Let them know you see us all as being on the same side. Tell them that you will refuse to scab despite having no regular income. The pickets will generally be the most politically aware of the work force so engage them in conversation and show you understand what is happening in Royal Mail and why it is happening. Royal Mail and the right-wing tabloids tell us we have no public support. Prove them wrong by your presence on our picket line!

Finally, do well in your studies! One thing the capitalists can’t handle is an educated working class.

Solidarity Comrades!