Protesters buoyed by support during joint postal strike

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/Pro ... 5552165.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal workers in Bury St Edmunds and Thetford have been on the picket line to protest against plans by Royal Mail to modernise the business.
In Bury, organisers said a high percentage of the 150 staff picketed outside the Skyliner Way delivery office for a half-day strike on Monday.

Postal workers took strike action, supported by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), from 4-9am and 3-6pm.

They said the strike followed failures by Royal Mail bosses to negotiate over plans to modernise the business, which could see more job cuts and increased delivery shifts for remaining staff.

Claire West works at the Bury office and joined the half-day strike on Monday. She said: "They want us to work harder for the same amount of money and they want to cut 15 jobs at the Bury office — that's 10 per cent of the workforce and will affect everyone who works here due to the volume of work.

"Support from the public has been really great. I spoke to one woman who runs a small business, who said she relied on the post. However, once I explained the situation to her, she praised the service she gets and was really supportive of the strike and what we are doing."

Dave, who works at the Bury office, said: "Royal Mail is only telling half the story. This isn't a strike about pay – it is a strike about jobs and ensuring we can maintain a high standard of service, which is what the general public expect and deserve."

Another member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said: "You have to support the union, otherwise there is no point in being a member. Whatever the union decides in the future regarding national strikes in September, we will support it and we will strike if necessary."

In Thetford, on Friday, Saturday and Monday, more than 30 staff took strike action at the Thetford sorting office, in Market Place.

It was the fifth time this year strike action had been taken by Thetford staff.

Adam Mitchell, Thetford CWU rep, said: "The changes that have already taken place have seen wages drop by £100 per week and it will only get worse.

"An agreement was made in 2007 for negotiations about modernisation but it isn't being stuck to, which is why we are striking."

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Royal Mail management are trying to crush the British postal service.

"We are repeating our offer of a no-strike deal to Royal Mail to avert current and future action and in return we want them to uphold their commitment on the 2007 agreement to negotiate over modernisation."

Royal Mail bosses fear a national strike will damage customer confidence and undermine the entire UK postal industry.

Paul Tolhurst, Royal Mail's operations director, said: "The CWU is again saying one thing and doing another.

"Publicly they say they want modernisation, yet they write regularly to members saying union policy is to oppose change on the ground."