Solidarity for sacked Woolwich postal worker

[Sandyman]

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=17532

Solidarity for sacked Woolwich postal worker

Postal workers in Woolwich, south London, delivered a massive show of solidarity to a sacked colleague by taking strike action on Tuesday this week.

Around 50 workers out of an office of just 85 took to the early morning picket line and brought postal services in the area to a standstill.

The dispute centres on a delivery worker who was dismissed shortly before Christmas last year. The postal workers' CWU union strongly disputes the evidence used against the worker.

CWU branch secretary Roy Vargerson told Socialist Worker that further strike action will take place on Easter Saturday.

"We can't put up with bullying and harassment anymore," he said. "This fight has come from the workers themselves – it's solidarity in action. It's the members that have told the union to act."

Many on the picket line felt that the climate of fear being generated by Royal Mail management would get worse if the service were privatised.

"We are very concerned about the prospect of companies like TNT coming in and running our service – it is a real threat to jobs," said Roy. "But all this talk of British jobs for British workers is nonsense.

"I remember my brother-in-law going away to work in Germany. They never talk that way about people from Britain going to other countries to work.

The CWU's London divisional rep Martin Walsh was on hand to offer the support of the wider union. He told Socialist Worker that the union is determined to win reinstatement for the sacked worker.

He also explained that postal workers across London could soon be part of a battle over job cuts. "We are balloting all of London for action on Royal Mail's savings and modernisation plans," he said.

"We have been holding meetings across the city and we will deliver a massive yes vote. We want to strike for permanent full time jobs and a shorter working week – and we are looking at going out on strike with London Underground workers too.



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Edmonton delivery workers strike
Delivery workers at the Upper Edmonton delivery office in north London struck solidly on Saturday of last week for a second time this month.

They are fighting an attempt by Royal Mail to introduce new 35-hour week contracts for people starting at the office without union agreement. This will mean extra work for all those on the existing 40‑hour contracts – and less pay for all new starters.

The north London branch of the CWU has agreed to ballot the whole area for strike action in support of their colleagues.

That ballot has been put on hold until the national union decides whether it is to authorise a London-wide ballot for strikes against Royal Mail plans to force through job cuts.

The following should be read alongside this article:
» Mood grows in Royal Mail to fight against post cuts

[norbert]

nothing like turning things into a unmitigated disaster with RM 's " brains trust " of Senior & Area " managers " - doesn't need the comrades to stir it up - unless RM 's actions are deliberate :lfo :cfo :mfo

[madelin4]

I wish my office stood together if wrong was done by a worker!! Instead most of them still come in early, dont take breaks race around duties!!

[POSTMAN]

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[kwf166]

I would just like to say thank you to all the guys at Woolwich for trying to get my mate Andy his job back, I have know him since 1990, we used to work together in a menswear shop, he a good guy and a very honest and trustworthy worker, and also a very good friend to me, and is going to be my best man in september too, he also help me when I lost my job a year before he got sack, and with his help,got me a job at Royal Mail, I been there for over 15 months, I too have seen a ugly side to the management at my office, I am really angry with those bully managers at woolwich, if you are one of the bosses at woolwich, take this from me, you should hang your head in shame, Andy should never of been sack and every office in this country need to do more to support our collegues,please pass the message around your office

RE INSTATE ANDY HOLDMAN NOW

[Lounge Lizard]

But what did management give as the reason(s) for him being sacked ?

[POSTMAN]

One thing that came out...
Signing on sheets that were used for wtll sessions were forged.

Letter here.

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 54#p165654" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kwf166]

One thing that came out...
Signing on sheets that were used for wtll sessions were forged.

Letter here.

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 54#p165654" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is correct, even though the appeal manager completely ignore that, his first ever little mistake in 7 years of employement, he get fire straight away, no warning at all

[kwf166]

But what did management give as the reason(s) for him being sacked ?

Just to add to postman post, a quote from the socialist party.

Andy Holman was sacked for making a mistake doing a job that his employers hadn't trained him to do. The union also hotly disputes the evidence against him.

After making the mistake, he was guaranteed by his employers that he would not face the sack but they still went ahead and fired him. This came just after the employers, who claim to have a zero tolerance policy on bullying and harassment, found two managers at the same office guilty of bullying and harassing other members of staff. They were let off with a slap on the wrist and sent on a course with no further action being taken.

CWU local union rep Neil Morgan highlighted the hypocrisy of the Royal Mail management, pointing out that they: "Sacked Andy for making a genuine mistake while the two managers found guilty of bullying were let off".

This is part of the Royal Mail management's efforts to create a climate of fear in order to deter workers from taking action in times of economic crisis and threatened privatisation of postal services.

Their efforts have been in vain, as both the one-hour stoppage on 31 March and the 24-hour strike on 14 April were 100% solid with no workers crossing the picket line and bringing postal services in the area to a standstill. The union is considering a south east London wide strike later this month. The union is also preparing to fight against job cuts that will come as part of the Royal Mail's so-called savings and modernisation plans.

[andy2007]

What did they actually accuse him of doing wrong?
There's plenty of reference to the fact that a mistake was made. But if it's so serious that RM consider it to be a sackable offence: Then why are they being so shy about repeating the accusation?

But this certainly isn't the first time that we've seen such serious double standards. Last year, one of my Collegues was sacked. For allegedly making a malicious accusation against a Manager, who assaulted him. Admittedly, it was only a minor assault. But that's not the point! It happened in front of over half a dozen staff!

At the ET: He was cleared of making any false accusations, and he got his job back. The Manager recieved an unspecified disciplinary, and is back at work, in the same building. But on another section. My Collegue?
He got a 1 year serious for his conduct immediately after the assault. I'll not go into more detail. As the last time I did, I was warned that I could potentially face B&H charges, for embarrasing the Manager about the incident. Even though I didn't use any names, times, or dates. As it was obviously a high profile case locally.

[DGP1]

What did they actually accuse him of doing wrong?
There's plenty of reference to the fact that a mistake was made. But if it's so serious that RM consider it to be a sackable offence: Then why are they being so shy about repeating the accusation?

But this certainly isn't the first time that we've seen such serious double standards. Last year, one of my Collegues was sacked. For allegedly making a malicious accusation against a Manager, who assaulted him. Admittedly, it was only a minor assault. But that's not the point! It happened in front of over half a dozen staff!

At the ET: He was cleared of making any false accusations, and he got his job back. The Manager recieved an unspecified disciplinary, and is back at work, in the same building. But on another section. My Collegue?
He got a 1 year serious for his conduct immediately after the assault. I'll not go into more detail. As the last time I did, I was warned that I could potentially face B&H charges, for embarrasing the Manager about the incident. Even though I didn't use any names, times, or dates. As it was obviously a high profile case locally.

From memory I think it was a leaving the engine running in a van whenever he got out of it (something about 5 feet).

As for a managers assault, we also had one of them in my office and the manager was just moved to another office but if it had have been a postie they'd have been sacked

[andy2007]

Unbelieveable! I can understand them wanting to give him a disciplinary for that. But to sack him?!?!?
Who among us, hasn't made a stupid mistake?
Do they expect us to be infallible automitons?

[Martin Walsh]

Andy was sacked on the basis of he was a delivery postman but on this particular day he was asked to go on the drive. He arrived at a pouch box at the same time as the delivery postman was opening it , he thought the postman would put the bag in the pouch box but didt and Andy was then charged with wilful delay.

A manager told a number of union reps that he would not be dismissed as it was a mistake but someone above decided to make sure he was sacked. In addition it is alledged that some paperwork was altered.

All Andy did on the day was be flexiable as Royal Mail keep telling postal workers to be and he paid the price.

[kwf166]

Andy was sacked on the basis of he was a delivery postman but on this particular day he was asked to go on the drive. He arrived at a pouch box at the same time as the delivery postman was opening it , he thought the postman would put the bag in the pouch box but didt and Andy was then charged with wilful delay.

A manager told a number of union reps that he would not be dismissed as it was a mistake but someone above decided to make sure he was sacked. In addition it is alledged that some paperwork was altered.

All Andy did on the day was be flexiable as Royal Mail keep telling postal workers to be and he paid the price.

I still can't understand why that other postman didn't put that bag in his pouch box, If that was me, I would of taken care of that bag, and Andy would still have his job.

[baldrick]

From memory I think it was a leaving the engine running in a van whenever he got out of it (something about 5 feet).

That was another sacking - in Yorkshire IIRC.