Postal workers will strike again for three days starting this Thursday unless talks which continue today are successful.

With both main political parties believing that privatisation of Royal Mail will be an inevitable result of the massive 6.8 billion pound pension fund deficit; it seems that in the next year privatisation may be firmly back on the agenda. So supporting the postal workers is essential for defending the rights of these crucial public sector workers now as well as for defending the future of the sector later.

The CWU have received support from other unions such as GMB, PCS, UNISON NAPO, Unite and NUT .  Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said:

“RMT stands shoulder to shoulder with the postal workers, their fight is our fight and the solidarity of the trade union movement will be key to securing their victory.”

A Comres poll commissioned by Newsnight last week revealed that twice as many people are supportive of the postal workers than are supportive of Royal Mail management and most do not want to see their service privatised. 25% of people asked said that they sympathised with Royal Mail management compared to 50% who said that they sympathised with postal workers and the union. This despite comments from Lord Mandelson undermining the motives of industrial action and commenting that in London there had been ‘repeated non co-operation and industrial action to frustrate the agreement’s implementation’.

 "Peter Mandelson's re-reading of old Royal Mail press releases helps no one. Repeating the management mantra that is blatantly untrue is extremely unhelpful.

"It was only a few months ago that Lord Mandelson said Royal Mail management was unable of creating an effective industrial relations environment. He now blindly backs that same management.

"These comments will damage the talks. While the CWU and management are working hard to reach an agreement, Lord Mandelson is misrepresenting the facts to Parliament and undermining any progress being made in the talks.

 "His comments about the dispute being centred on London are ill informed and untrue. A 76 per cent yes vote was returned in a nationwide ballot which is proof of this.  

139 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling for a negotiated settlement for a successful resolution to the dispute. Lobby your MP to sign EDM 2035 and help build parliamentary support for the postal workers.