Greater Manchester - save your post office

THIS SEPTEMBER, 67 post offices in different parts of Greater Manchester face closure. The government wants to shut 2,500 around the country. Many local post offices have started their own petitions. We support that and urge everyone - save your post office! We have produced campaign petitions, leaflets and sign-up sheets for action.

Hugh Caffrey

Around 100 local councils say that if post offices are threatened in their area, then they will consider taking them over. We are calling on Greater Manchester residents to contact their councillors, and ask them whether they support such a step.

But none of the parties represented in parliament are consistently anti-cuts, or genuinely on the side of working-class people. No Greater Manchester Labour MP voted against 'congratulating' the government on closing our post offices in March 2008.

Liberal Democrats say they oppose closures. But when an independent report proved that privatising mail delivery was a disaster, they demanded more privatisation! They want the government to sell 49% of its stake in Royal Mail (Guardian, 7 May). The original party of privatisation, the Tories, say they oppose post office closures. But they attacked postal workers striking to defend their service and are committed to Labour's spending limits, i.e. cuts.

It's time for a new workers' party! If you are against the post office closures, come to this meeting organised by the Campaign for a New Workers' Party in Manchester:

"Save our Services and the workers in them!"

Tuesday 15 July, 7pm, Friends Meeting House, Mount St., behind Manchester central library.

For more info about the meeting, campaign, etc contact 07769 611 320 or manc_sfe@hotmail.com

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Coronavirus crisis - Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.