Unofficial strike spreads across West of Scotland

[emanon66]

GMC are due out on Official IA on Monday too.

[Body Beyond Repair]

Yes the 4 offices were out today supported 100% in each office.Thanks to all drivers who refused to cross the picket line on this ocassion the way it should always be, and the follow up of all CWU members on the back of this.

[johnston65]

GMC has voted to return to work while at the same time cancelling next weeks official action to enter into local talks with management over major issues...staff are split over decision especially as strike was spreading through Scotland. Ward and co were as usefull as chocolate fireguards. This is getting bitter and this was obviously a tactic by management to drive us into unofficial action. We have to keep our dignity and hold the line and we will beat these idiots.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/gla ... 263140.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal workers at 15 mail delivery offices in the west of Scotland have taken part in wildcat strike action.

The dispute started after several drivers were sent home without pay for refusing to cross an official picket line in Ayrshire.

Royal Mail said this was "standard practice" where staff refused to work while not taking industrial action.

It said the wildcat action was unlawful and apologised for delays to delivery services across the west of Scotland.

A statement from Royal Mail said: "Unfortunately staff in Glasgow Mail Centre and in 14 other delivery offices in the west of Scotland have taken unofficial, unlawful industrial action today.

"Royal Mail is doing all that it can do to deliver the mail to our customers and we apologise wholeheartedly to customers for the difficulties caused by strikes."

Wider dispute

The statement urged the staff to return to work.

"This is unofficial and unlawful action that only hurts our business and our customers, who now have many other options for mail deliveries," it continued.

"The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will be repudiating this action and advising its members to return to work."

The official industrial action in Ayrshire is part of a UK-wide campaign by the CWU.

The ongoing dispute comes after the CWU and Royal Mail accused each other of reneging on a deal reached in 2007 aimed at modernising the service.

The union has accused bosses of forcing through change without consultation. Royal Mail said the changes were needed to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

[johnston65]

This takes us back to the ridiculous situation where pickets are having to step down to allow staff from offices not out on strike to cross their picket lines...TOTALLY FARCICAL...a picket is there to prevent people passing the day it started to change there was always going to be a problem.
We either go all together or we just don't go...no more of this pish of allowing people being allowed through picket lines.

[thehappyones]

Well people .....dont know about anybody else who was there today on the grassy knoll, but me thinks CWU and Royal Mail have colluded together (willing or unwilling partners) to bring about the action that happened last night something defo smells fishy

[johnston65]

I certainly think that we have lost more than we gained with this action. We now have executive action imposed us come next monday without any opposition as the official action has been cancelled. We dont have any guarantee that the night shift will get there lieu day next bank holiday and we will return to the usual bullying tactics that Glasgow Mail Centre management are famous for.
The only good thing to come out of today was that most posties stood together including drivers, processing and delivery.showing management that we won't lie down and be walked over.

[johnston65]

We all lost money today but people like properbo should be applauded for sticking by true trade union principles and refusing to cross picket lines and showing true solidarity.

[BELIAL]

We all lost money today but people like properbo should be applauded for sticking by true trade union principles and refusing to cross picket lines and showing true solidarity.

Looks like you might need a strike committee of your own GMC

[johnston65]

The question is why does it always seem to be the west of scotland that is first to go..is it a management thing up here or is it the union nationally testing the water

[raider1]

We all lost money today but people like properbo should be applauded for sticking by true trade union principles and refusing to cross picket lines and showing true solidarity.

Its a shame so many d.o's are happy to take mail delivered by managers and sorted by managers

[Body Beyond Repair]

Johnston65 your spot on !!

[kello22]

Will you be out tomorrow aswell..

[johnston65]

No voted to go back

[HESS]

Would like to cascade our thanks from Ayr DO along with 'rural3'...many thanks to all who refused to even approach the picket-lines in Ayrshire last night..!! Again...same to 'johnston65'...the 4 Ayrshire offices involved last night took the joint position to refuse any vans crossing the 'line'....!! Fed up standin out and stepping aside...waste of time....!! Hats off to all who were involved in rapid downfall of the West-coast..!!
Mon' the posties....!!!