Royal Mail strike could hit postal services

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... vices.html

Postal services could be affected when more than 800 engineers and security staff at Royal Mail depots start a three-day strike over changes to hours.


By Christopher Hope, Home Affairs Editor
Last Updated: 8:12PM BST 22 Sep 2008

Staff employed by engineering firm Romec will take three days of industrial action at up to 200 sites across the UK.

The industrial unrest is the first walk-out since 120 million letters and parcels were stranded in the post last Autumn after thousands of Royal Mail workers stopped work in a row over pay, jobs and pensions.

The staff who are striking work in technical grades which include electronic security and buildings maintenance engineers who fix lifts and other electrical equipment.

Officials at the Communications Workers' Union said that the walk-out could affect mail services, although this was hotly contested by Royal Mail.

Dave Ward, deputy general secretary, said: "This dispute could have a massive impact on the rest of the mail network as Royal Mail sites depend on these workers to maintain machinery and buildings."

The CWU said up to 200 sites were hit by the strike, including 69 mail centres in the UK plus a handful of major delivery offices in each city, as well as 12 in London.

Ray Ellis, CWU lead negotiator, added: "Taking three days of strike action clearly reflects staff's strength of feeling on this issue which threatens their social and family lives and earnings.

"The CWU remains committed to obtaining an agreement which includes proper reward for working weekends and unsocial hours and must have at its heart the voluntary principle."

Fiona Tully-Turner, a spokesman for Romec, said: "Due to changes in building services maintenance working times, a number of Romec engineers have voted in favour of industrial action and plan to strike on Tuesday for three days.

"Romec is changing building maintenance engineers' hours to meet customers' needs. Steps are being taken to ensure minimum disruption to customers' business. A robust contingency plan is in place."

Last night Royal Mail sources said there would be "impact on delivery, collection and sorting" with managers standing by to step in if problems threatened services. Romec staff were not involved with mail sorting equipment.

Company sources stressed Romec staff were not directly employed by Royal Mail and were contractors "providing buildings maintenance, including work such as replacing light bulbs and adjusting the thermostats of heating systems".

A spokesman said: "We do not expect this action to have any impact on mail services and we will continue to collect, sort and deliver the mail across our entire operation." No one from Romec was available to comment.

[DGP1]

Company sources stressed Romec staff were not directly employed by Royal Mail and were contractors "providing buildings maintenance, including work such as replacing light bulbs and adjusting the thermostats of heating systems".

How to make someone feel un-needed, they don't tell about the major things (phones/alarms/electrics etc.), after all if it was only changing a few lightbulbs then I sure the managers could stretch to that.

[norbert]

after all if it was only changing a few lightbulbs then I sure the managers could stretch to that.

I doubt it. The idea of someone changing a light bulb while sitting in a chair with their feet on a desk!

forgive me if I'm wrong but I thought RM still had a 51% share in ROMEC - but I believe RM likes to be the sleeping partner with Balfour Beatty - true blue tory building firm - "coincidentally " that's why there has been so much trouble ?

[DGP1]

after all if it was only changing a few lightbulbs then I sure the managers could stretch to that.

I doubt it. The idea of someone changing a light bulb while sitting in a chair with their feet on a desk!

but surely there is something they can do


No, you're right, they could'nt run a bath

[TrueBlueTerrier]

after all if it was only changing a few lightbulbs then I sure the managers could stretch to that.

I doubt it. The idea of someone changing a light bulb while sitting in a chair with their feet on a desk!

and considering one hand is always holding a cup of tea/coffee as well ----- No think of the children

[DGP1]

after all if it was only changing a few lightbulbs then I sure the managers could stretch to that.

I doubt it. The idea of someone changing a light bulb while sitting in a chair with their feet on a desk!

and considering one hand is always holding a cup of tea/coffee as well ----- No think of the children

You forgot about the inevitable copy of the Sun which would have to be put down in oeder for them to change said lightbulb (nevermind changing the thermostat).

[woofwoof]

the ones are hull mail centre are still at work