The Royal Mail has hired 30,000 temps to replace the striking postmen and clear some of the backlog which, predictably, the CWU has condemned as “a stupid move”.

Like they can talk.

Striking is the most stupid move they could have made. It hasn’t helped their workers, and will just condemn them in the long term. Striking will only ensure that the Royal Mail is abandoned by businesses and individuals as other mail providers or technologies are used.

The simple fact of the matter is that if the CWU wants its members to keep their jobs, it and they are going to have to accept changes. They will have to accept changes to their working practices or they will not have jobs for for very longer because Royal Mail will go bankrupt.

That the posties are holding this strike in the middle of a recession doesn’t help their cause – many people are glad just to have a job right now. And that these strikes are so close to Christmas as to affect the Christmas post won’t exactly endear them further.

People have the right to strike for better pay and working conditions. But now is not the time to do it, especially considering the archaic practices currently undertaken in the Royal Mail.

The Royal Mail are doing what they can to keep the post moving. The CWU have made a stupid decision which may well cost all their members their jobs in the end.