Extra day of strike for pay-stop posties

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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PETERBOROUGH will face a double blow of mail chaos as city postal workers pledge to strike for an extra day in support of three colleagues who have had their pay stopped.
The Evening Telegraph revealed on Thursday how delivery workers Lee Lennon-Banks, David Bull and Steve Goodley were no longer being paid, after it was alleged by Royal Mail management that they were not meeting standards.

Now, most of the 200 postal workers at the main Royal Mail depot in Papyrus Road, Werrington, have pledged to strike – on a date to be confirmed – in support of the trio.

They are already scheduled to take part in a 24-hour-long national strike next Thursday.

But their decision to walk-out again in protest over the local pay issue will be a further hit to Peterborough’s postal service.

Following the management stopping the three posties’ pay, a meeting of more than 50 depot staff was called outside the sorting office in Papyrus Road, Werrington, Peterborough yesterday morning.

Colleagues of Mr Lennon-Banks, Mr Bull and Mr Goodley, who have worked for the Royal Mail for a combined total of 45 years, unanimously agreed to strike.

There are 200 delivery staff at the depot, and 99 per cent are members of the Communication Workers’ Union and will be taking action.

Area representative for the CWU, Mark Cooke, said: “We are not prepared to stand back while our colleagues and mates are being treated like dirt.

“These guys cannot look their families in the eye and say they are bringing home a wage at the moment. It is disgraceful and it is disgusting and we are not having it.

“We think there will be more people in their position next week, so this is for everyone.”

Mr Cooke also revealed that a fighting fund had been set up to pay Mr Lennon-Banks, Mr Bull and Mr Goodley’s wages while the dispute continues, with CWU branches across the country contributing.

Today Mr Bull said: “We are all very pleased with the support we have had from our colleagues. We are a strong unit. They attack one of us, they attack all of us.”

Mr Lennon-Banks added: “Our colleagues are like members of our family, and we knew we could rely on their support. We will not back down over this.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We urge them not to take industrial action which will be damaging to customers and the business.”

[viking1488]

keep the good work up PETERBOROUGH nice one lads stand strong

[Wessex]

Well done Peterborough

[hairyjack]

Yes, a shining example of how to stand together and stand firm. Well done Peterborough.