Union ballot for Royal Mail postal strike in Coventry

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POSTAL services in Coventry and Warwickshire could be disrupted after union leaders revealed they would be balloting for industrial action.

A national dispute at Royal Mail - which will see thousands of postal workers in London take part in three days of strikes this week - looks set to spill over in to Coventry and Warwickshire in the next few days.

Union leaders confirmed that workers in Leamington had been balloted for industrial action. Discussions are to take place in Coventry and the rest of Warwickshire.

The move could see thousands of postal workers in the area voting for a strike.

The dispute is in protest at job cuts and the partial privatisation of the Royal Mail. The Communication Workers Union also believes that the company is cutting services while failing to modernise.

Coventry-based union leader Mick Kavanagh said: “This is not just about one separate issue or individual offices, it is a national dispute.

"Royal Mail’s treatment of its staff has been shambolic. I believe that people in Coventry should be told that their public services will be decimated.

“Jobs are being lost and services are being cut.”

He added that negotiations were still going on over the closure of the Bishop Street sorting office in Coventry.

“We are not happy with the way Royal Mail has dealt with this issue,” he said.

“Discussions will be taking place in Coventry and Warwickshire within the next few days.”

Union leaders also claim that bosses at Royal Mail have gone back on the pay and modernisation agreement which was drawn up two years ago.

In the agreement bosses and union leaders vowed to work together to protect jobs and provide high quality terms and conditions for all employees. The union claims the Royal Mail is no longer complying with that.

The strike in London is due to begin on Wednesday evening and will end on Saturday morning.

Business secretary Peter Mandelson condemned the planned strike.

He said: “The Royal Mail needs to change and modernise to turn itself round and compete effectively.

"We are looking for the changes to Royal Mail’s operations and working practices agreed under the 2007 Pay and Modernisation Agreement to be delivered.

“Endless industrial relations problems and disputes are damaging the company and their ability to compete.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Customers will not understand how the union can claim to support modernisation but then announce strike action to halt existing efforts to modernise Royal Mail in London.”