workers in West Yorkshire. The Management precipitated the all-out strike by suspending postmen who wouldn' ross the picket lines in Leeds. Their aim is to introduce casual "Postal workers will have to wear plastic tags where all clocking on and clocking off times for breaks, etc., are recorded by supervisors. Management locked workers in the GPO in Iuddersfield and threatened us with emergency powers under the Official Secrets Act to get the Post out. Local postal workers feel betrayed by the union leaders who have given the Post Ottice what they want; the right to change rosters when they choose and to hire and fire casual workers at will. Postal Worker, Huddersfield GPO, Supporter of Socialist Socialist Viewpoint No. 13 July 1986 p10
PHOTO: Leeds Other Paper could return. The High refused the injunction, losing the union members a vital 24 hours to spread the strike. Workers joined the strike, paralysing the mail throughout Yorkshire. There was no clear lead on spreading the strike from the national leadership
because of the Union of Communication holding their national conference in Bournemouth during this vital week it Executive Council to stich up a deal behind the backs of the members.
As the strike was extended some of the casuals joined it. The government privatisation. The General Secretary of the Union, Alan Tuffin, was under enormous pressure to negotiate a compromise with the Post Office before the strike became national.
So were the Post Office, who are
Blood, sweat, and a charge to the right
highly profitable and were in position to make concessions as long as they did not concede over the right to control overtime and over the new writin ice challenged on any of these questions. After all, for the last 12 months he had been negotiating them away!
The management finally offered, long win g o or ni Bit hous and the Leeds strikers acepted, along with up to one and a half hours extra unpaid rest time per week.
This was a demand which the management in an advertisement to IT'S difficult to describe the delegates to this year's NUPE Conterence without sounding like I'm exaggerating.
Just two years ago, the last time the resolution opposing the Witch-hunt was carried overwhelmingly by the Conference. This year a resolution supporting expulsions was carried by a majority of somewhere in the region
The shift to the right has to be seen significant than in any other section of the labour movement. Remember in the early eighties when NUPE was
"Bennite Union"? regarded as a left winger Labour Party NEC? Remember Alice in Wonderland?
The fact is that the bulk of those
who voted against the witch-hunt in '84 were there again this year - baying for the blood of recommendation. What needs to be looked at by the left is why this has
Cof the union's current position can be seen as going hand in head down and wait for a Kinnock government."
The union's refusal to lead a national battle against privatisation, or mobilise support for the Barking Hospital strikers in their 18-month fight, and the ridicule and
a staff and in their letter given to all staff members had said they would never concede — but it has to be pal‹ for with the loss of up to £7 bonus
From June 23, however, the new speeded-up working practices start. The Leeds Postal workers may have won a partial victory; but they could
everything. showed they had real power.
employment casuals in a very short space of time is a new feature oi this dispute. Posta. Workers are afraid this could mean a growing towards the casualisation of the Postal Service. Union