looks good to me - is the plan to have english & polish text on the same leaflet? not all agency workers are eastern european and not all eastern europeans are poles like
Leaflet in Polish for post strikes?
Joseph K. wrote:
looks good to me - is the plan to have english & polish text on the same leaflet? not all agency workers are eastern european and not all eastern europeans are poles like
yeah this is important. it should be mostly aimed at agency workers, with just polish translation as well, we don't wanna be saying all scabs are poles!
catch wrote:
Yeah definitely, although that'd have to be A5 double sided probably right?
that would seem the obvious way, unless it's only half an A5 long text. makes printing a bit trickier, but it would be layed out as both sides of the A5 on one A4 side anyway for duplex printing so worst case people without duplex could just give it out as A4
John. wrote:
yeah this is important. it should be mostly aimed at agency workers, with just polish translation as well, we don't wanna be saying all scabs are poles!
Sloppy first post does leave room for that a bit 
- also there's obviously full time Polish staff in Royal Mail and an "agency/scab = Pole" leaflet would go down really well I think not. So double-sided A5? Or single sided top/English bottom/Polish if we can keep it concise? Any more ideas on text? I think it's important not to simply arguethe scabs line - although there's a massive increase in agency workers at RM right now, it also seems part of a general casualisation drive as well so the mutual race to the bottom thing should be mentioned.
There's a rumour that late starts may provoke suspensions and all out wildcats over the weekend, which'd be an ideal time to have everything done and ready to go, so I reckon we need to make end of Friday a hard deadline for something usable, then refinements/printing over weekend - no idea how long translation will take for this, but I guess shorter the better.
changed "Polish workers in Watford" to "Polish agency workers in Watford" in the OP, otherwise seems good like i say.
timing-wise yeah sounds good too (although of course the rumour of wildcats will cause the CWU to call it off as soon as we go to print, but whatever... 
)
I'd take the bullet point off "*these are just three of over 20 new measures as well as the below inflation pay cut"
I had a go at the last bit, I'm not sure if this is any clearer though.
The Royal Mail wants to divide full time and agency workers, they pay you less and give you no job security, they are using this to attack the conditions of all postal workers. Postal workers are famous for militant strike action, the Royal Mail is trying to break this tradition of strength by using casual agency workers instead of giving permanent contracts. By showing solidarity you are not just helping current workers. You are defending future jobs, so they can't use agencies to make you second-class workers. In Watford and Liverpool Polish agency workers refused to cross picket lines, showing solidarity against bosses that are attacking them.
If the postal workers lose there will be a knock-on effect across the country, the government is already pushing through attacks on all public workers and if they succeed then private employers will hit us even harder.
Quote:
I'd take the bullet point off "*these are just three of over 20 new measures as well as the below inflation pay cut"
Yep, not exactly punchy is it. Should have something else there though (or better worded).
Quote:
I had a go at the last bit, I'm not sure if this is any clearer though.
It's better. This is a rewrite of your rewrite, mainly trying to cut down the length.
Quote:
The Royal Mail wants to divide full time and agency workers, they pay you less and give you no job security, they are using this to attack the conditions of all postal workers. Management is trying to break this tradition of militant strike action in the postal service by using casual agency workers instead of giving permanent contracts. In Watford and Liverpool Polish agency workers refused to cross picket lines, showing solidarity against bosses that are attacking all of us. By refusing to cross lines, you are not just helping current workers, you are undermining Royal Mail's ability to use agency workers in the future to break strikes and push down conditions across the board. If the postal workers lose there will be a knock-on effect across the country: the government is already pushing through attacks on all public sector workers and if they succeed then private employers will hit us even harder. To fight these attacks successfully workers must join forces across the boundaries of employer and sector.
looks good catch.
I meant with the bulletpoint that I'd leave it at the end but not have the actual point next to it because it wasn't part of the list. But now you mention it how does this sound?
Quote:
Royal Mail workers are suffering the most serious attack on their working conditions in the history of the postal service. As well as a below inflation pay cut (I don't like that but don't know how to express it ) management are imposing 20 new measures, including:*Forcing workers to work at any time during the day instead of regular shifts
*Increasing the amount of mail workers must carry (to above the current amount agency workers carry)
*Ending the final salary pension scheme for new and existing employees, which will affect any agency worker taken on full time.If this strike is lost, it will destroy the job as it currently is.
Quote:
Royal Mail workers are suffering the most serious attack on their working conditions in the history of the postal service. As well as a real-terms pay cut management are imposing 20 new measures, including:*Forcing workers to work at any time during the day instead of regular shifts
*Increasing the amount of mail workers must carry (to above the current amount agency workers carry)
*Ending the final salary pension scheme for new and existing employees, which will affect any agency worker taken on full time.If this strike is lost, it will destroy the job as it currently is.
The Royal Mail wants to divide full time and agency workers, they pay you less and give you no job security, they are using this to attack the conditions of all postal workers. Management is trying to break this tradition of militant strike action in the postal service by using casual agency workers instead of giving permanent contracts. In Watford and Liverpool Polish agency workers refused to cross picket lines, showing solidarity against bosses that are attacking all of us. By refusing to cross lines, you are not just helping current workers, you are undermining Royal Mail's ability to use agency workers in the future to break strikes and push down conditions across the board. If the postal workers lose there will be a knock-on effect across the country: the government is already pushing through attacks on all public sector workers and if they succeed then private employers will hit us even harder. To fight these attacks successfully workers must join forces across the boundaries of employer and sector.
couple changes/additions. paragraphing broken up:
Quote:
PICKET LINE - DO NOT CROSS [or something]Royal Mail workers are currently fighting against the most serious attack on their working conditions in the history of the postal service.
Along with other public sector workers they are facing pay cut in real terms. On top of this management are imposing 20 new measures, including:
*Forcing workers to work at any time during the day instead of regular shifts
*Increasing the amount of mail workers must carry (to above the current amount agency workers carry). Royal Mail employs 0.7% of the population but its workers suffer 10% of all the UK's musculoskeletal injuries each year
*Introducing "flexibility" to force workers to take on other jobs - one 8-months' pregnant worker in a sorting office was told to take a bag and do door-to-door deliveries
*Making workers work 5 years longer by increasing the pension age to 65
*Ending the final salary pension scheme for new and existing employees, which will affect any agency worker taken on full time.If this strike is lost, it will destroy the job as it currently is.
The Royal Mail wants to divide full time and agency workers, they pay you less and give you no job security, they are using this to attack the conditions of all postal workers.
Management is trying to break the tradition of militant defence of working conditions in the postal service by using casual agency workers instead of giving permanent contracts.
In Watford and Liverpool Polish agency workers refused to cross picket lines, showing solidarity against bosses that are attacking all of us. By refusing to cross lines, you are not just helping current workers, you are undermining Royal Mail's ability to use agency workers in the future to break strikes and push down conditions for all workers - including you.
If the postal workers lose there will be a knock-on effect across the country: you will have to work longer and harder for lower wages.
The government is already pushing through attacks on all public sector workers and if they succeed then private employers will hit us even harder. To fight these attacks successfully workers must join forces across the boundaries of permanent and agency, and employer and sector.
Don't cross picket lines! Defend the wages and conditions of all workers!
swapped tag to headline, couple minor edits:
Quote:
Don't cross picket lines! Defend the wages and conditions of all workers!Royal Mail workers are currently fighting against the most serious attack on their working conditions in the history of the postal service.
Along with other public sector workers they are facing pay cut in real terms. On top of this management are imposing 20 new measures, including:
*Forcing workers to work at any time during the day instead of regular shifts
*Increasing the amount of mail workers must carry (to above the current amount agency workers have to now). Royal Mail employs 0.7% of the population but its workers suffer 10% of all the UK's musculoskeletal injuries each year
*Introducing "flexibility" to force workers to take on other jobs - one 8-months' pregnant worker in a sorting office was told to take a bag and do door-to-door deliveries
*Making workers work 5 years longer by increasing the pension age to 65
*Ending the final salary pension scheme for new and existing employees, which will affect any agency worker taken on full time.If this strike is lost, it will destroy the job as it currently is.
The Royal Mail wants to divide full time and agency workers, they pay you less and give you no job security, they are using this to attack the conditions of all postal workers.
Management is trying to break the tradition of militant defence of working conditions in the postal service by using casual agency workers instead of giving permanent contracts.
In Watford and Liverpool Polish agency workers refused to cross picket lines, showing solidarity against bosses that are attacking all of us. By refusing to cross lines, you are not just helping current workers, you are undermining Royal Mail's ability to use agency workers in the future to break strikes and push down conditions for all workers.
If the postal workers lose there will be a knock-on effect across the country: you will have to work longer and harder for lower wages.
The government is already pushing through attacks on all public sector workers and if they succeed then private employers will hit us even harder. To fight these attacks successfully workers must join forces across the boundaries of permanent and agency, and employer and sector.
Ret suggested: 'Don't scab on your fellow workers'
only issue with using "scab" is that I'm pretty sure it's a Royal Mail disciplinary to use it on picket lines - so having it on a leaflet could lead to suspensions, maybe? I think it's probably better in than out, no point watering down.
in that case:
final final version
Agency staff: Don't scab on your fellow workers!
Royal Mail workers are currently fighting against the most serious attack on their working conditions in the history of the postal service.
Along with other public sector workers they are facing a pay cut in real terms. On top of this management are imposing 20 new measures, including:
*Forcing workers to work at any time during the day instead of regular shifts
*Increasing the amount of mail workers must carry (to above the current amount agency workers have to now). Royal Mail employs 0.7% of the population but its workers suffer 10% of all the UK's musculoskeletal injuries each year
*Introducing "flexibility" to force workers to take on other jobs - one 8-months' pregnant worker in a sorting office was told to take a bag and do door-to-door deliveries
*Making workers work 5 years longer by increasing the pension age to 65
*Ending the final salary pension scheme for new and existing employees, which will affect any agency worker taken on full time.
If this strike is lost, it will destroy the job as it currently is.
The Royal Mail wants to divide full time and agency workers, they pay you less and give you no job security, they are using this to attack the conditions of all postal workers.
Management is trying to break the tradition of militant defence of working conditions in the postal service by using casual agency workers instead of giving permanent contracts.
In Watford and Liverpool Polish agency workers refused to cross picket lines, showing solidarity against bosses that are attacking all of us. By refusing to cross lines, you are not just helping current workers, you are undermining Royal Mail's ability to use agency workers in the future to break strikes and push down conditions for all workers.
If the postal workers lose there will be a knock-on effect across the country: you will have to work longer and harder for lower wages.
The government is already pushing through attacks on all public sector workers and if they succeed then private employers will hit us even harder. To fight these attacks successfully workers must join forces across the boundaries of permanent and agency, and employer and sector.
Don't cross picket lines! Defend the wages and conditions of all workers!
Header should mention agency:
Agency staff: don't scab on your fellow workers!
also, should we say something like, if you don't cross, or don't work, contact this address to let us know? dispatch at libcom dot org maybe? and to get involved in helping build links etc.
also add pay 2007 address and RMC
Quote:
Along with other public sector workers they are facing pay cut in real terms. On top of this management are imposing 20 new measures, including:
'a pay cut' otherwise it's looking good, sorry I won't be able to help with distro. HSG went to postal pickets last time (I think I reposted a report on here) so they might offer a hand.
Edit: the leaflet is now available here - print out and get down to your local Manpower!
The idea has come up on a couple of threads now about doing a leaflet in Polish for the postal strikes. Although I don't think agency workers will make or break the strike, their massive use is clearly intended to have a psychological impact (and some practical impact) on the strike, and the examples in a few places of them not crossing picket lines are also very encouraging. Although a leaflet may or may not cause anyone to not cross lines, I think it could open up communication between full time posties and Polish agency workers, and also have a destablising effect on Royal Mail's strike breaking efforts and management morale.
I don't have much of an idea as to what should go in such a leaflet though, so hopefully this thread can bash some ideas out. Devrim knows people who can translate English - Polish, and I think Oisleep knows someone who can, so at least two possibilities there. Also I contacted RMC, and they'll help distribute if we can get it done - meaning it could be distributed by postal workers both on picket lines and at work, and by politicos at agencies.
One postal contact says:
I reckon one side of A5 is fine - easy and cheap to print off, maybe a scaled up A4 version to put on walls (or for people like me who can't use scissors properly). Needs to talk to both the conditions of the agency workers as well as explaining the situation at Royal Mail and wider, should obviously mention not crossing picket lines but that needs to be handled well.
So this to start with, to be pulled apart because it's easier to do that than start from scratch - will be hard to produce both this and Dispatch at the same time, so help appreciated. 3rd person allows for more reuseability, but not very personal.