Notts IWW members leaflet local Job Centre in solidarity with postal workers

On Wednesday morning, 28th October 2009, members of the Nottingham & Notts General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (Notts IWW) took to the streets with a leaflet written to ask Job Centre users/benefits claimants and workers at Station Street Job Centre Plus not to cooperate with the Royal Mail’s attempt to recruit 30,000 temporary posties to try and break the ongoing postal workers strike. Although Royal Mail often starts to recruit for Christmas around this time of year, the target of 30,000 is many more than the usual.

During the morning signing-period 130 leaflets were handed out and IWW members talked to around 25 people going in. Only a couple of people were negative and all the others who stopped and talked were sympathetic to the Posties strike. A few said how difficult it would be not to take the work, especially as it’s relatively well-paid, but understood our arguments and the link between their action – the posties’ success – and pay and conditions more widely.

We also spoke to three people on Incapacity Benefit, and that is another vital aspect of the social wage that we should protect and improve.

Even the Job Centre door security said our leaflet was very sensible but eventually asked us not to stand on the step because “the rules are the rules”!

The IWW is open to all workers, unless you are a boss, and benefits claimants.

TEXT OF LEAFLET HANDED OUT

Don’t apply for Royal Mail jobs

Support the Posties instead!

Royal Mail workers are striking against pay and job cuts, and bigger and bigger workloads. This struggle will have an effect on pay and conditions for all us in the future.

Royal Mail management have been fiddling the figures to justify cuts and their aim is to hire 30,000 temps to cover the strike – twice as many as for the normal Christmas rush.

If others take these jobs it makes it easier for ALL bosses to attack ALL of us. Low-paid, casual contracts will continue to replace proper jobs, and wages will get lower and lower.

Asking you not to take these jobs is a big thing to ask, we know. In the current climate there are few jobs with long-term security. Some of us will need to take anything we can. Some of us are even being forced to apply by Job Centres. But we have to stick together and fight
together: we are all ripped-off, exploited people. So, what can you do?

If you are unemployed

* Go and talk to the Posties on the picket line. Show them you support their fight for decent jobs.

* Talk to other unemployed people about the issue.

* If you get post on a strike day, go to the door and talk to the worker doing your regular postie’s job. Explain why you think they shouldn’t do it.

* Help us leaflet the Job Centre and employment agencies!

If you are being forced to take a job

* Refuse to cover the work of striking posties. It is legally suspect for companies to hire temps to break a strike, so they can’t force you do it!

If you are Job Centre or agency staff, this affects you too

* You have bosses breathing down your neck and probably bad pay & little job security too. But don’t place people in jobs that are aimed at breaking this strike! Show solidarity with posties and claimants.

The Posties are striking for all of us

Show them you support them