STRIKE RULED OUT DESPITE BURSLEM POSTIES' SACKINGS

[TrueBlueTerrier]

1st Link to Burlsem Stories

5:40 - 12 March 2008

Five postal workers have been sacked after a bitter six-month dispute with Royal Mail.

The company has now handed out punishments to seven of the so-called "Burslem 12", who were suspended over allegations of bullying and harassment last September, sparking weeks of strikes at the Burslem office.

Allegations against four of the workers have been dropped and one is still awaiting his fate. Two have been given an official warning.

Lee Barron, Midlands regional secretary for the Communication Workers' Union (CWU), said the action was part of a Royal Mail agenda to hinder union activity at the Burslem office.

He said all workers punished by the company would appeal against the decisions.

Mr Barron said: "This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Royal Mail are targeting workers and trying to remove the union from the workplace because all of the 12 are current or former union representatives.

"All of these people will get an independent appeal and then they will return to work in Burslem.

"We are hugely confident that all of those who have been dismissed will be reinstated."

A Royal Mail spokesman said serious allegations had been levelled against the workers, but declined to comment on any disciplinary measures.

Six workers were informed about their punishments yesterday, after five of the cases concluded in the winter.

A total of five workers were dismissed outright, one was given a warning that will remain on their record for a year, and one was given a two-year suspended dismissal.

The decision on the 12th worker is expected later this week.

The group were suspended on September 11 last year, sparking an impromptu walk-out by more than 100 workers at the Scotia Road office.

Burslem postal workers also held a five-week strike over Christmas in protest against the suspensions.

But Mr Barron said the CWU had no plans to ballot workers over further strike action.

He explained: "The strike held over Christmas was held because we believed that the process Royal Mail was deploying had a pre-determined outcome. We believe that has been proven to be true.

"It has been agreed that should Royal Mail dismiss anyone then there would be an appeal and there would not be another ballot unless the company reneges on that."

The disciplined workers will now appeal to a national panel consisting of Royal Mail, CWU and independent members.

A spokesman for Royal Mail confirmed the cases of 11 of the 12 workers had been considered after five were notified about their fates in the winter.

He said: "A further six Royal Mail Burslem employees, suspended following serious allegations of bullying and harassment, have been notified of the outcome of their conduct cases.

"Royal Mail does not disclose the details of individual employees.

"All cases are being handled in accordance with our conduct procedures which are agreed with the CWU and includes the right of appeal, if necessary.

"Royal Mail takes a zero tolerance approach to bullying and harassment and is duty bound to investigate when such allegations are received."


Comments can be made on each story by following links

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Link to 2nd Story

September 11: Workers stage an unofficial one-day strike in support of the 12 colleagues suspended over allegations of bullying and harassment.November 3: Postal workers threaten to go back on strike.

December 13: Plans for a 15-day strike are announced.

December 15: Royal Mail reveals up to 200 of its managers will be brought in to make sure the Christmas post is delivered on time.

December 18: The 15-day strike begins.

December 22: The CWU extends strike by two weeks to take it to at least January 16.

January 3: Postal workers start their second wave of strike action, which will run until January 16 unless a resolution is found.

January 5: The CWU reveals the strike could spread to the rest of the city.

Union leaders serve notice to Royal Mail to enable 1,600 postal workers to be balloted for strike action.

January 8: The CWU extends its strike until at least January 30 following a ballot of members. It comes after Royal Mail sent letters to staff informing them that their annual leave will be cut because they are on strike.

January 12: Royal Mail assures customers that it is delivering 100,000 items of post a day across the ST6 postcode area in spite of the ongoing strike.

January 16: Attempts by the CWU and Royal Mail to resolve the dispute fail at the 11th hour.

January 22: The 'Burslem 12' go to London for a meeting to try to resolve the dispute.

January 23: Around 100 union members agree to go back to work after accepting an offer from Royal Mail.

January 24: The striking staff return to work.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Link to 3rd Story

Postal workers have ruled out going on strike even though five workers involved in a bitter dispute with Royal Mail have been sacked.The company has dismissed seven of the so-called "Burslem 12", who were suspended over allegations of bullying and harassment last September.

[wranglered]

Let's hope the union has applied for interim relief for any of the sacked who are CWU reps.

[johno47]

I like the bit where RM say they handled the cases in accordance with their conduct procedures, that should read Witch Hunt procedures, RM really is a law unto itself, they talk about bullying and harrasing and conduct procedures and yet they themselves bully and harrass staff and break their own procedures all the time, what these 13 including Big Dave and their families have had to endure for all these months is a disgrace, RM should hang its head in shame at the treatment handed out to these people and i applaud their courage and determination to get justice...UNITY IS STRENGTH..

[baggee]

IF RM THINKS IT HAS BROKE BURSLEM D.O, THEY HAD BETTER THINK AGAIN. THE FIGHT STILL CARRIES ON BIG TIME

[norbert]

IF RM THINKS IT HAS BROKE BURSLEM D.O, THEY HAD BETTER THINK AGAIN. THE FIGHT STILL CARRIES ON BIG TIME

just have to hope the CWU HQ grows a pair and does civil actions , I don't think RM is ultimately too bothered as it thinks it'll be backed up all the way to No 10 , look at Karen Weissemann and that Unison Official .

Did Big Dave get any joy with that adjourned tribunal ?

[Daniel Dunglas Home]

They still have an appeal dont they ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

They still have an appeal dont they ?

Yes according to the article:

"All of these people will get an independent appeal and then they will return to work in Burslem.

"We are hugely confident that all of those who have been dismissed will be reinstated."

"It has been agreed that should Royal Mail dismiss anyone then there would be an appeal and there would not be another ballot unless the company reneges on that."

The disciplined workers will now appeal to a national panel consisting of Royal Mail, CWU and independent members.

[Daniel Dunglas Home]

Lets hope it goes without prejudice then-if thats possible for anybody accused who has affiliations to the Socialist Party.

[L Tommo]

BEST OF LUCK AND BEST WISHES TO ALL THE GOOD BURSLEMITES...


L TOMMO BACKS YA AND ALWAYS WILL.....


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