Royal Mail's employees are striking on behalf of all workers | Polly Toynbee

Rival carriers undercut the Royal Mail by offering far worse pay and conditions. It's time to stop this race to the bottomPostal workers have just voted to strike. The Tories at their conference gleefully challenged Labour leaders to denounce "illegal" action, assuming the Communication Workers' Union ballot would never jump the hurdle of Tory laws designed to make strikes virtually impossible. Tough: not only did turnout far outleap the legal minimum, but 89% of votes backed a walkout.Lord Tebbit, union-baiter in chief, could only harrumph. "They are pricing themselves out of business, making it more difficult for themselves to keep their jobs," he said, calling them "near-suicidal". Continue reading...