By a postal worker THE TORY climb down over Post Office privatisation has not resolved many of the problems that remain in the industry.
An early indication of the government's intention will be the money claimed back from the Post Office by Clarke's November Budget. This has risen from £60 million to £213m in the last three years.
Any reduction would indicate a shift in government policy. This is extremely unlikely given current attacks on the public sector. This means the Post Office will remain on the political agenda.
The Post Office board now operates more like a private firm than a public sector company. Each part of the Post Office is now a separate "business" with each aiming to achieve a profit.
Increasing levies imposed by the Treasury have led to a concerted management attack on the workforce, with the aim of micitasing orous.
The Union of Communication Workers offers creater comtmercial freedom' as the solution. The strategy is based on the BBC deal with Pearson, a multinational media organisation.
For the Post Office it would mean contracts with airlines, and large mail users like credit card companies, to deal with bulk mail for Europe and America. This option only offers a way forward for a business based on profit.
'Partnerships'
The strategy of greater commercial freedom, championed by soft-left Labour MP Peter Hain, has been taken up by Tony Blair. The Labour. Party now looks for 'partnerships' between the public sector and the private sector.
Greater commercial freedom in the public sector should be rejected. The mass opposition to privatisation and Crown office closure is because the Post Office is part of the public sector.
'Commercial freedom' would press forward the rationalisation that has already seen Post Office Counters sell off 750 of the 1500 larger 'Crown' offices since 1988.
The UCW is now preparing strike action to defend what remains of the network. A ballot is being organised on a branch basis, making national action unlikely. Instead the UCW plans a series of rolling strikes with a promise of one day a month for each UCW member called on to take strike action.
This token response will be ignored by management. It also makes solidarity action by other postal workers more difficult as was shown by the signal workers However the ballot is a step forward, and a strong 'yes' vote will put pressure on the UCW leadership to call national strike action.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No.72, November 19 1994, Page 6