The following resolution was unanimously adopted by a meeting of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee on Sunday May 14. The vote followed a wide-ranging discussion among postal workers in attendance from across the UK, from delivery, processing, and Parcelforce. A report on the meeting will be published in the coming days. For more information contact: rmpw.rfc@gmail.com

The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee reaffirms its rejection of every aspect of the CWU’s pro-company agreement with Royal Mail. It is a surrender document that ushers in the worst attacks on our pay, terms and conditions in history. It will institute brutal Amazon-style conditions against the entire workforce, enforced via union-company partnership.

We denounce the CWU bureaucracy’s “communications and engagement timetable” as an exercise in propaganda and lies. Their further delay of the postal ballot is one more example of our rights being trampled. Ward and the postal executive are using their control over the union’s resources—paid for by our £28 million annual subs—to intimidate, browbeat and silence mass opposition to their betrayal.

The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee sends its greetings to our brothers and sisters across Royal Mail and calls for a resounding No vote to reject this deal. Meetings, resolutions, leaflet distributions and discussions should be held in every workplace—with or without the support of the reps—to organise the opposition of rank-and-file postal workers.

A No vote is only the beginning, not the end of the fight. We face a bitter struggle, not just against a company whose board is determined to inflict defeat, but against a union apparatus working hand in hand with Royal Mail, the Tories and Labour. They all agree that our livelihoods—and the USO as a vital public service—must be sacrificed on the altar of profit.

We call on Royal Mail workers to begin the fight now for rank-and-file committees at every workplace and depot. At first, these may involve only a minority of workers, but they will win support by providing a clear programme of struggle, and a forum for workers to collectively discuss, organise and co-ordinate across Royal Mail and beyond to fight for their interests.

We draw the attention of colleagues to the struggle of Amazon, postal and logistics workers across the UK, Europe, the United States and internationally against the same savage demands for “restructuring” and increased exploitation. An injury to one, is an injury to all.

Our red lines in this fight must be:

• No pay cuts! For an inflation-busting pay-rise funded by major shareholders!
• No surrender of terms and conditions! Hands off sick pay and hands off our hours!
• No inferior conditions for new entrants! Reject a two-tier workforce!
• No agreement with Royal Mail unless all victimised workers and reps are unconditionally reinstated!

Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee

Sunday May 14, 2023