A working class pixie is nothing to be

When John Lennon wrote Working Class Hero his point that "a working-class hero is something to be" was lost on some who didn't get the irony. The point he was making is that a working-class hero is nothing to be, because until he challenges the socio-economic stratification that separates us into classes of haves and have-nots, he will always remain at the bottom, powerless, no matter what honours his slave-class bestow upon him.

Royal Mail does need to be modernised - and there is nothing more modern than a co-operative.

There are over 750,000 co-operatives in the world.

They employ over 100 million people, 20% more than multinational enterprises.

They serve over 800 million members.

They range from small-scale to multi-million pound businesses.

Co-operatives can be organised to provide any good or service.

A workers' co-operative is owned and controlled by the employees of the business.

Co-operatives are not about left or right.

Co-operatives abolish class division.

Co-operatives are about applying principles of justice, fairness and democracy for human beings in workplaces.

Existing co-operatives survive and flourish because they provide high quality goods and services enjoyed by consumers at a fair and competitive price.

If we are to stop the decimation of our postal service and its profits going into the hands of a small political elite - if the workers are to enjoy a decent standard of living and consumers a world-class service - Royal Mail needs to become a co-operative.


How to turn Royal Mail into a workers' co-operative -

1. Establish a managerial committee in each mail centre and delivery office to take over the work of managers. Invite existing managers to be part of the committee.

2. Instruct the CWU to co-ordinate the election of a directive committee. If they don't wish to undertake this process, instruct an independent consultancy. Invite applications from everyone in the business, including existing directors.

3. Once the officers of the directive committee have been elected, the business plan should be re-written in order to improve the service. Responsibilities should be assigned to newly elected officers to implement it nationwide.

4. Equal wages to be paid to all grades which will increase the general wage-level.

For more information on co-operatives, check out the International Co-operative Alliance

Vive la co-operative. Vive la collective. Vive la revolucion.

And if you're still not convinced about the meaning of Working Class Hero, listen again - the line "You're still fucking peasants as far as I can see" kinda gives it away...