External convener urges EUSA to support striking postal strikers

Edinburgh University Student Association's external convener plans to bring a motion before the executive meeting which could see EUSA refusing to allow Royal Mail to advertise for temporary workers within unions and publications.

The motion placed at the meeting on Monday by Katherine  McMahon is aimed at preventing any job advertisements until the mail company's strike dispute is resolved.

Miss McMahon said: “We need to show solidarity throughout this strike. Students are not an isolated group: we must appreciate those who contribute to society—to our lives—and we can and should support to other groups who are struggling for their rights.

“We are facing massive cuts to public services, and every loss affects us all. Education is a public service too, and we may well face a fight for that as well. We need to set a precedent that we will not stand for it.

Along with banning Royal Mail from advertising jobs through EUSA, the motion McMahon is proposing also includes EUSA opposing any other university allowing similar practice.

She has lobbied EUSA to compose a public statement in support of the postal workers and to send a spokesperson to the upcoming public meeting being organised in support of the strike.

McMahon continued: “In the last national strike, Royal Mail targeted students as temporary, strike-breaking labour.

"By not allowing them to recruit on campus for the duration of the dispute, we can help the strike to be as effective as possible.

“The delays to mail are obviously inconvenient, but it just goes to show how much we rely on these workers.

"This action would also send a clear message of support: going on strike isn't an easy option by any means, and solidarity is essential.”

Vice-President of Societies and Activities Camilla Pierry was at the meeting on Monday and was not convinced by McMahon’s stance on the situation.

Ms Pierry told The Journal: “There is currently no evidence to suggest that the Royal Mail are encouraging ‘strike-breaking’. The extra employees will be recruited to help with the backlog, not to replace the striking postmen.

“Political beliefs aside, EUSA is here to represent students, and we know that many students need to work to support their studies. Seasonal jobs such as this are invaluable to many, and students should be free to make their own choices about who to work for.”

McMahon acknowledged this and told The Journal: “I appreciate that for those students who have been finding it hard to find a job in recent times this offer of seasonal work may seem like the perfect solution —and as soon as the dispute is over, go for it.

“However, the workers who are on strike are in danger of losing their jobs, having their pay frozen, or their conditions significantly worsened, and I urge students to consider the wider issues before taking a job which could have such detrimental effects on someone else's. It's a hard thing to ask, but real and positive change only happens when people stand together."

Ms McMahon said that she was prepared to take the issue to the Student Representative Council.

In response to this, Pierry concluded: “Although I cannot pre-empt what the SRC will vote for, in my personal opinion banning employers from campus on a whim does not improve the student experience at Edinburgh and is thus not something that EUSA should be focusing our efforts on."