Tories say post strike almost like death wish

[Geezer]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3d0952ea-a3bc ... abdc0.html

By Brian Groom and Jean Eaglesham

Published: September 17 2009 20:30 | Last updated: September 17 2009 20:30

Postal workers were behaving as if they had a “death wish”, the Conservative party said on Thursday, as 120,000 Royal Mail staff began voting on a national strike over pay, jobs and services.

The Communication Workers Union said the ballot result would be known early next month, threatening further disruption to businesses and consumers who have already suffered from months of walkouts.


Kenneth Clarke, shadow business secretary, who is pressing for at least partial privatisation of Royal Mail in the first year of a Tory government, said: “We are returning to a world in which totally irresponsible strikes are being threatened in the public services. The state of Royal Mail is now so serious that talk of a strike for vague objectives is almost like a death wish.

“This is where we have got to after 12 years of the government doing nothing about the problems of Royal Mail and they appear to have no policy for its future which they are capable of pursuing at the moment.”

Ministers have so far resisted pressure from business leaders to intervene in the dispute, for fear of playing into the CWU’s hands by politicising it.

The Department for Business said the dispute was “deeply damaging” for the postal business. It added that, after the government postponed a bill to part-privatise Royal Mail in the summer, the CWU had begun a “series of strikes designed to stop essential change taking place”.

The union and Royal Mail blame each other for the dispute, which stems from managers’ efforts to cut shifts and hours to cope with a 10 per cent fall in letter volumes.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said a “period of calm” was needed for the next six weeks to give the two sides time to discuss how the service should be modernised. “If we don’t take a stand now and stand up for postal workers, the Royal Mail will destroy postal services forever,” he said.

The CWU estimates the local strikes have caused a backlog of 20m letters and parcels in London alone. Royal Mail says the figure is only 9m UK-wide, of which 6m are in London. The postal operator typically delivers 95m items a day across the country.

Local strikes are planned on Friday in four Scottish delivery offices – Ayr, Irvine, Kilmarnock and Kilwinning.

[POSTMAN]

I think i've missed something,i think i've missed my 4 day week going down the swanney next month,i think i've misread the thousands of posts on here regarding other EA,i think i've missed the bullying managment posts on here,i think i've again misread the posts about forced flexing and the abuse of lapsing,the abuse of the pay&mod deal, i think i think too much....................................i think i'll vote yes!

[pickaname]

“This is where we have got to after 12 years of the government doing nothing about the problems of Royal Mail and they appear to have no policy for its future which they are capable of pursuing at the moment.”

No Ken...this is what where we have got to after 17 years of Royal Mail not making their pension contributions.

[flaminmoses]

"we are returning to a world which is irresponsible"

no we are already in a world which is irresponsibe you tool.

banks giving out credit with minimal checks
weapons of mass destruction fueled invasion
sending soldiers out to fight a "well we cant back down and admit our mistake" war

what is this idiot on?
we are fighting for our basic employment rights

[antcpfc]

I think you are all being a bit harsh on "our ken".
Lets face it he knows all about destroying public services ,he was the health secretary responsible for privatising all the cleaning,food and any other job he could lay his hands on.

[PrestwickPostie]

i have a death wish for quite a few current and ex tory politicians especially maggie thatcher ... i expect a week of celebration up here when she snuffs it