Postal service row as workers prepare to strike

[Geezer]

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news ... ?ID=444520

The government has been accused of letting the postal service "rot" as workers in Cambridge prepare to launch a fresh wave of strikes in the bitter row over jobs, pay and services.

Members of the Communication Workers Union in Cambridge and other areas, including Essex, London, Birmingham and Edinburgh, will take industrial action over the next few days as preparations are made for a national ballot.

Dave Ward, deputy general secretary of the CWU said Royal Mail staff were working harder than ever but in return were facing "harassment" from managers.

He also attacked the Government for refusing to intervene in the long-running dispute, saying: "Postal workers also feel let down by the government. The postal industry needs the government to address the crucial issues of pensions and regulation that they themselves identified.

"The government’s current position of doing nothing because they did not get their way on privatisation means they are guilty of letting the postal industry rot.

"Bullying and harassment is now reaching shocking levels as local managers are allowed to pick on individuals.

"Sackings occur at the whim of over-promoted managers trying to deliver unrealistic budget savings linked to unfair work rates which people can’t cope with."

The Royal Mail described the claims as "totally untrue", adding that more than 90% of staff will be working normally over coming days despite the strikes.

"We will be doing our best to mitigate the impact of strikes in any area where the CWU is taking action.

"We are again talking with the union having met them more than 50 times already in recent months.

"We again urge the CWU to call off its strikes and its plans for a ballot next month and to join Royal Mail’s drive to complete the modernisation of the business as we tackle the intensifying competition from electronic media and the impact of the recession on mail volumes, now falling at around 10% a year."

Strikes will hit Cambridge, Birmingham, Bridgend, Bristol, Essex, Leeds, Northampton, Peterborough, Warrington and London on Thursday.

Then on Friday action will switch to Bognor Regis, Stirling, Edinburgh and London again, while on Saturday workers in Greater Manchester, Middlesbrough and the Isle of Wight will stage walkouts.