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A
Mexican wave of protest is travelling around the country in response
to the Post Offices plans to close 2,500 local branches. They are
rolling this programme out, area by area in order that there is not
a synchronised national movement against them. Each time closures
are announced, a six week period is given for “consultation”. So far
only a tiny minority of branches have been reprieved. This is on top
of the ongoing closures of Crown Post Offices, with their functions
being taken over by WHSmiths.
For many local
communities this will be a devastating loss of services. It will hit
the elderly and disabled the most. The Post Office thinks it is OK
for these people to travel up to three miles to their nearest
alternative!
These proposals are
being carried through on the instructions of the government. The
services which have been withdrawn from post offices by the
government have resulted in a loss of revenue from local branches.
This is of course in total contrast the billions of pounds being
pumped into Northern Rock to save rich bankers.
The agenda behind this
is the eventual privatisation of Post Office services. On a local
level, fearful of losing votes, some councillors and MPs from all
three main parties have opposed closures of Post Offices in their
own constituencies. Usually these “campaigns” merely amount to a
photo in the local paper outside the threatened post office. But it
is the Labour party which is behind this attack, and none of the
other main parties really oppose privatisation and the overall cuts
in services.
In contrast in some
areas there have been strong local campaigns actively involving
people, including various demonstrations and lobbies as well as
submissions to the consultations. However the problem has been the
difficulties in linking up these campaigns across regions and
nationally.
If a
mass working class party existed today it would oppose all closures
and privatisation. This would not just be verbal, but would use its
membership base by mobilising a massive campaign from the local
level right up to a national level until it became an issue
reminiscent of the Poll Tax!
That is why supporters of the Campaign for a New Workers’ Party are
actively involved in local campaigns against Post Office closures
across the country whilst arguing for the formation of such a party.
If you agree, get involved in campaigning in your area, help fight
back against the immediate cuts we’re facing and help build support
for the Campaign for a New Workers’ Party!
