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S. E. A. Statements

Boycott Royal Mail to support Derry workers

Statement from Eamonn McCann, prospective SEA Assembly candidate for Foyle.

Monday 8th January 2007

Royal Mail management intends to discriminate against Derry postal workers yet again if an Assembly election is called.

The management proposes to pay the Derry workers a lower rate than Belfast workers to deliver election material.

All political parties intending to contest a forthcoming election should make it clear now that they won't allow their material to be delivered by Royal Mail unless the Derry workers are paid at the same rate as workers in Belfast

When this issue emerged during the last election, the SEA took the initiative to remove our material from the sorting office at Gt. James's Street rather than collude in the divisive, discriminatory tactics of Royal Mail management. At least one other political party followed our lead. Others said that the issue had emerged too late.

This time around, all parties have time to address the issue. The SEA calls on other parties to tell Royal Mail management now that if they don't negotiate a rate for delivery acceptable to Derry postal workers, they won't be handling any election material at all.

The SEA is also calling on workers in Belfast and other areas to support their Derry colleagues. They should be aware that if management gets away with paying under the odds in Derry, it won't be long before they try to slash rates elsewhere. Workers should not have to tolerate cut-price pay rates anywhere.





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