“After yesterday’s actions, Royal Mail have escalated the dispute by announcing up to 10,000 job cuts over the next year as an act to demoralise staff and break the strike.”
By the Labour Outlook Team
Left Labour MPs showed solidarity with Communication Workers Union members on strike at Royal Mail yesterday.
Socialist Campaign Group Secretary Richard Burgon joined Dave Ward and CWU members in Nine Elms in South London, and was joined by fellow MPs Zarah Sultana, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Andy McDonald, Beth Winter and Olivia Blake.
Other MPs joined local union members at delivery offices around the country.
The action was the latest in a series of one and two-day strike actions in recent months as Royal Mail imposed a 2% pay offer – amounting to a significant pay cut accounting for inflation.
Richard Burgon told Sky News he backed postal workers striking for a fair pay deal.
Andy McDonald condemned Royal Mail paying almost half a billion pounds to shareholders while giving workers a real-terms pay cut.
Zarah Sultana said Royal Mail bosses were greedy paying themselves millions while cutting workers wages.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy said she was proud to stand with Royal Mail workers.
Beth Winter said a 2% pay cap was an attack on living standards.
Olivia Blake said Royal Mail can give their workers a proper pay rise.
Ian Lavery shared a video with CWU members on his local picket line.
Ian Byrne said his picket line in Liverpool West Derby was rock-solid.
Rebecca Long-Bailey tweeted from a picket line in Salford that there was huge support for postal workers.
Kim Johnson tweeted she had joined a picket line in South Liverpool.
Tahir Ali joined his former CWU colleagues at Birmingham Mail Centre.
After yesterday’s actions, Royal Mail have escalated the dispute by announcing up to 10,000 job cuts over the next year as an act to demoralise staff and break the strike. John McDonnell labelled this a “blatant attempt” to bully employees striking for decent wages.
The CWU and left MPs have been quick to condemn the move and highlight that the company cannot complain of financial losses whilst paying hundreds of millions of dividends to shareholders in the past year.
The CWU will escalate action through October and November.
- Show your support for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) on Facebook, Instagram and twitter.
- If you support Labour Outlook’s work amplifying the voices of left movements and struggles in the UK and internationally, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon.
Exactly the type of solidarity one expects from Labour MPs. Well done!