Strike could hit York's Christmas mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3847406. ... tmas_mail/

By Mike Laycock »


THE prospect of a damaging York postal strike in the run-up to Christmas was looming today.

Union leaders have called an extraordinary general meeting to discuss calls for industrial action against Royal Mail’s controversial decision to stop sorting second class post in York.

Spokesman Paul Clays said that members of the Communication Workers’ Union believed the decision was the forerunner to the eventual closure of the office in Leeman Road and loss of more than 350 jobs.

He claimed they were also angry because Royal Mail bosses were refusing to negotiate with the union.

He said they would vote at the meeting, to be held tomorrow afternoon at the Post Office Club in Marygate, whether to hold a ballot on industrial action.

“If there is action, it will involve sorting and distribution staff and disrupt Christmas cards and other mail posted by people within the York postcode and also mail being sent to people living within the area.

“But Royal Mail could avert the threat of action now if it would only agree to negotiate.

“A lot of members have asked for the meeting – a lot of people have expressed strong views, and I expect many to attend the meeting. We have the support of City of York Council in our stance and of York’s MP Hugh Bayley.”

He said that the Government had helped save thousands of Post Office branches yesterday by awarding the contract for a card account used by millions of people to receive benefits and pensions to the Post Office.

“Only the Royal Mail management is behaving in a morally bankrupt way,” said Mr Clays.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said today: “We remain ready to discuss our plans with the union and would urge them not to call for strike action which can only be damaging both for the business and for our customers.”

The Press exclusively revealed earlier this month how Royal Mail intended to transfer the processing of second class mail posted within the Y0 postcode area from the York to the Leeds Mail Centre.

The company said the move, intended to improve operational efficiency, would not result in the loss of any of the York centre’s 360 jobs, due to the way it managed staffing. It also said there were “no plans at the moment” to transfer any further mail processing from York to Leeds.

But a York sorting office employee told The Press that staff feared the worst. “We are worried this is the thin end of the wedge – that it could be death by a thousand cuts,” he said.

Concerns have deepened since then with reports in a national newspaper that proposals may shortly be put to Business Secretary Peter Mandelson for dozens of smaller sorting offices across Britain to be shut as part of a Royal Mail rationalisation.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Forgive me but "discuss our plans" is not quite a proper definition of negotiating. Decisions by Dictact and no real consultation seems a common pattern within the group. IMHO it kind of makes their term of "our people" sound very hollow.

[mh80]

Typical comments left by numbnuts on The York Press website article. It's depressing!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Bad reporting and bad journalism I think. They cant ballot for a strike at the meeting they can only call, second and pass a resolution to have a ballot. They then have to prepare the ballot (ie word the question correctly and in line with any applicable laws) and decide when the ballot will close. Then they have to print out the ballot and send them to the members addresses. At the closing date of the ballot they of course have to count the ballot but also get an independent adjudicator to verify the account. Next step is advise Royal Mail and the members of the outcome of the ballot. From this point they then have a maximum of 28 days to notify Royal Mail of when the strike will be, or they have to strike within 28 days (not to sure which TBH). After they have decided when the strike will be they have to advise RM who will be striking, where there place of work is and what their grading or position is within the company.

So as you can see, even if I have not got the details accurate (which is highly likely) it is a long drawn out process and I don't think they have enough time to get a legal strike in place before Christmas. I could be wrong though.

I am surprised that the rep said what he did though I thought it would be best to keep Joe & Jane Public on side.

Still - I support their cause