Leamington postal workers plan strik

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Postal services will be disrupted in Leamington on Friday, with 150 workers expected to join in a 24-hour strike.
They will be among thousands of workers across the country protesting in a dispute over changes Royal Mail has made to working arrangements.

Members of the Communications Workers' Union are expected to join a picket line outside the main post office in Priory Terrace from 5.30am.

Mick Kavanagh, chairman of the Coventry and Warwickshire branch, said: "Our members have voted for industrial action because Royal Mail is walking away from a modernisation agreement made in 2007.

"They have made the workers work later on a Saturday and they have taken out members' 'take home' pay.

"This is not just about the revision, this is about Royal Mail enforcing changes on our members in Leamington without agreement."

Mr Kavanagh said that unless an agreement was reached, further strike action was likely in Warwick and other offices across the county.

The union has around 120 members in Warwick, who have been told that changes to their working arrangements are due to take place.

Mr Kavanagh added: "This is an issue that now becomes very serious up and down the country, and will eventually involve all members in whatever office there is."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "There sadly will be disruption to deliveries in Leamington, but managers have volunteered to make sure special deliveries, tracked services and post office collections will be processed on time.

"Strike action hurts both businesses and individuals and our customers
will not understand how the union leadership can keep saying it backs modernisation while constantly resisting the introduction of new technology and more efficient working practices.

"We are urging the union to work with us to implement that agreement and help complete the transformation of Royal Mail in all our interests."

Strike action is also expected to take place in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Darlington, Stoke, Plymouth, Norfolk and Essex.

Other offices across the UK will be protesting in other ways, including holding meetings and releasing balloons.

The union plans to deliver a letter and postcard to Royal Mail's Chief Executive Adam Crozier and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson this afternoon, followed by a coordinated balloon release at post offices across the UK.