It's interesting to note that whilst the SNP wishes to renationalise The Post Office in Scotland, the unions don't want anything to do with independence.
The CWU, Communication Workers Union, which represents 17,000 postal and telecoms workers in Scotland, said the result was an “overwhelming” backing for the recommendations of its National Executive Committee.
The National Executive Committee itself based its recommendation for a “no” vote on votes held at two Scottish branch forums and two polls of its Scottish members, 60% of whom backed the “no” vote against 26.3% in favour of Scottish independence
The CWU becomes the sixth trade union to back a No vote, after the GMB, Aslef, Community, the NUM and the shopworkers' union Usdaw all announced their support for Scotland staying in the UK.
No major trade union has backed breaking up the UK.
This is the first time I've seen a trade union do something I agree with!
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Although CWU is backing No at a national British level, branches across the country can take their own position. The Scotland Number Two branch, based in Edinburgh, decided to back Yes Scotland at its AGM in March – and will be campaigning for Yes in the months running up to the referendum.
Michael, a CWU member from North Lanarkshire, said:
“The CWU decision has been reached by a majority of delegates who neither work nor live in Scotland and have been exposed primarily to the pro-unionist side of the debate. Both my wife and I were born and raised in England and are well aware of the lack of information being provided to the rest of the UK by the national media. We’re also aware that large parts of the rest of the UK couldn’t care less as to which way the vote goes.
“The CWU’s reasons behind supporting the No vote are vague to say the least. Unity against austerity is all well and good but as a union the CWU did not do enough to halt the privatisation of the Royal Mail. Also, considering the union is still showing unwavering support for a Labour party that is planning to continue Tory austerity measures should they return to power, I’m not quite sure what they are planning to do once we’ve all united against austerity. They seem to have the same concept of “all in it together” as the Tories!
“At the very least I expected my union to stay neutral on this subject or even publish details of their plans in the event of a Yes vote. What they have managed to do is leave people feeling they should vote No as there’s too much work involved in a Yes vote.
“I, like others in my workplace, have been quite vocal regarding which way we will vote. In Scotland this has been a major topic of conversation for the last couple of years. The CWU have now put me in the position of feeling that should I continue to be vocal in support of the Yes campaign, I may not receive the same level of support in my workplace as someone who supports the Better Together campaign.
“Imagine that myself and a colleague were both being reprimanded for wearing Yes badges and Better Together badges respectively at work. Can the CWU ensure the same level of union assistance to me as my colleague during disciplinary proceedings? After yesterday, I have concrete foundations for any doubts now.
“I’m just really disappointed with my Union!”
For myself, I'm happy to credit the majority of trade unionists with the ability to think for themselves.
Innes Newton wrote:There's always bound to be one unhappy one.
Sorry, you must have missed the bit in my previous post about the Scotland No.2 branch of the CWU supporting a YES vote for independence.
The CWU Scotland No 2 Branch voted over a year ago to back a yes vote in the independence referendum next year. The union, which covers postal workers in the Stirling, Edinburgh, Fife and Falkirk, has voted to play an active role in the campaign for Scottish independence.
