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Statements by Our Candidates in the 2005 Elections

Eamonn McCann, SEA candidate for Foyle and for Waterside Rural

Postal workers dispute escalated by Royal Mail management

Wednesday, April 27th 2005

The Socialist Environmental Alliance yesterday (Tuesday) removed its election literature from the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Great James Street in solidarity with Derry postal workers, who say that they are being discriminated against relative to Belfast workers.

Speaking last night in an election office full of boxes of leaflets, Eamonn McCann told election workers: "As a party that stands for workers' rights, we cannot allow our literature to be delivered by workers who are not being paid a fair rate and who are being used to undermine the postal workers' efforts to end the unfairness.

"However, the response of trade unionists, and other activists, to our stand, is such that I believe we will be able to deliver the election literature to most households in the city. We have been heartened by the number of people, particularly trade unionists, who have said they would help.

"The response of Royal Mail to the postal workers standing up for their rights should be rejected by everybody. Too many Derry workers have lost jobs and had their pay and conditions cut by 'outsourcing'. 

"The SEA is calling on all Derry workers to refuse to do this outsourced work, thereby leaving Royal Mail no choice but to end the discrimination against Derry postal workers.

"This is an issue that could be resolved quickly.  We hope that other political parties will meet urgently and discuss this question and decide what their response is going to be.





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