Posties in Liverpool and Birkenhead were among the most militant in the country, taking illegal 'wildcat' strike action for over a week, after they got back from an official strike to find Royal Mail had unilaterally changed their working hours.
When representatives of Royal Mail and the CWU finally reached a deal, it quickly became clear that union bureaucrats had caved-in to pressure from post bosses on one side, and the government on the other. The new deal contained almost exactly the same terms that CWU general secretary Billy Hayes had denounced as a "carve up" by Royal Mail bosses and their "rich mates", so rank-and-file posties have been expressing dismay and anger.
CWU members have now voted on the proposals, and the results were announced on 27th November. 64% agreed to the new contracts, with a 64% turnout. This means that 59% of eligible voters did not back the deal!. If there is resistance to the stitch-up, we can expect it to be particularly strong on Merseyside, and postal workers will need public support if they are to save a service we all rely on.
Liverpool Indymedia Liverpool C.W.U. March and Rally.|Royal Mail wildcats spread to north of England|Merseyside Posties Wildcat|Demands for government intervention aimed at strangling post dispute|Postal union agrees to sell-out deal with Royal Mail|Students in Liverpool cross Royal Mail Picket Lines|Sussex students pass motion in support of posties|Oppose efforts by Communication Workers Union to end postal strike|41% of Posties Accept Stitch-Up Deal/Motion Carried
BBC Merseyside Third day of wildcat post strikes|Wildcat post strikes despite deal
Daily Post/Liverpool Echo Wildcat post strikes over working hours|D-day for Mersey postal staff on wildcat strike action|No end in sight to wildcat postal strike in Liverpool
LibCom Organise forum thread|Examining the 2007 Royal Mail dispute|Royal Mail workers vote yes to settlement