50 years since the first national Postal Strike
Its 50 years since the first national strike by postal workers (& telephone operators- STD was not fully implemented until 1979). The strike for a 13% wage increase lasted for 7 weeks. Strike pay was not paid (except for hardship) and when funds ran low the strike was called off and arbitration entered into.
It was a glorious episode with a less than glorious outcome but it marked a significant moment not perhaps appreciated in a period like now when strikes are very low. It marked a time when a significant section of (then) public sector workers took strike action for the first time. It would certainly not be the last.
In 1971 a tradition was started carried on by the CWU today.
The late Paul Foot wrote a detailed analysis (& critique) of the strike at the time:
https://www.marxists.org/archive/foot-paul/1971/post/text.html
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