Postal workers are on a national strike from 22 October against massive cuts to their jobs and pensions and against a pay freeze.

The Royal Mail bosses and the government have said that the postal service must be reformed. But their idea of "reforms" is to slash jobs, hike profits and pave the way for privatisation.

The bosses also say they must act to deal with the pension deficit. But for years the government took billions in profit out of Royal Mail but did not pay into the pension fund. Instead they took it for themselves and the bosses.
• This year Royal Mail has made £321 million profit - the workers have not seen a penny of it.
• Royal Mail bosses have taken £10 million in bonuses.

These are the same bosses that closed 2,000 local post offices and cut daily deliveries. Now, in the middle of a recession, they want to cut 50,000 jobs and put the rest on short time. To get their way, they imposed changes and bullied their own workers, sacking union activists and reps.

BBC's Newsnight programme revealed that the government and Royal Mail bosses provoked and planned this strike and want to use it to break the Communication Workers Union (CWU). They want to make the postal service slower, less reliable and more expensive.

Support the posties
Postal workers have been fighting for weeks and already a third of the workforce, 40,000, are already taking strike action. They have now voted 3-1 for strike action.

The cuts in Royal Mail provide a glimpse of what is in store for the rest of us. Labour and the Tories have said they will cut other public services: schools, hospitals, benefits.

Postal workers are leading the way in the fight against cuts, closures and attacks on public services. Their fight is our fight. We all must support them: collect money for their hardship fund, talk to friends and workmates, visit the picket lines.
• Read Red Postie for more on the strike
• If you are interested in supporting the postal workers contact Workers Power