Posties vote for action

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 05 Dec 2008, 13:06

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpoo ... -22412747/

POSTAL workers narrowly backed a strike call over the proposed closure of Liverpool’s Copperas Hill sorting centre.

Officials said they would now decide what action they will take.

The ballot for industrial action up to and including a strike was carried by a margin of seven votes.

But Communication Workers’ Union Liverpool branch secretary Mark Walsh said it was enough to persuade Royal Mail to return to the negotiating table with the union’s London executive yesterday.

He said local union representatives would discuss their next step after consulting their national executive later today.

Mr Walsh said: “The vote for industrial action was very close, but the ‘yes’ vote got both sides back together yesterday.”

Union representatives could call an all-out stoppage, which would hit postal deliveries during the busy festive period.

But Mr Walsh added: “No-one wants to go on strike before Christmas.”

Royal Mail spokeswoman Marie Gray said: “We are clearly disappointed at the result of the ballot, particularly at this busy time.

“But the ballot affected less than 5% of the workforce nationally and we are urging all our people to continue delivering the nation’s festive postbag and give our customers the service they want and expect.”

The ballot follows Royal Mail’s plans to close five out of seven north west sorting centres and relocate work.

Royal Mail proposes to shut Copperas Hill in 2010 and transfer its sorting duties to Warrington.

The move could cost the city 600 sorting jobs and leave Liverpool as the only major centre without its own sorting office.

Postal officials say Copperas Hill is no longer fit for purpose.

Union leaders, Liverpool council, regeneration agency Liverpool Vision and Riverside Labour MP Louise Ellman have urged Royal Mail to create a new purpose-built sorting centre and proposed three sites in south Liverpool and Knowsley. But mail officials have rejected the proposals.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 05 Dec 2008, 16:38

“But the ballot affected less than 5% of the workforce nationally and we are urging all our people to continue delivering the nation’s festive postbag and give our customers the service they want and expect.”

Is it just me or does everybody get pissed that RM constantly distort figures to suit themselves

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 05 Dec 2008, 16:58

Probably why all managerial chairs are on a pedestal. Your can't spin that well on one with legs

Captain Scarlet · Post by **Captain Scarlet** » 05 Dec 2008, 17:51

What worries me is how many smaller DO,s will close in the next couple of years o make SUPER DO,s??
Our DO is well past it,s sell by date and there is no room to swing a cat, so I just wonder if we could end up with the building being sold and stuck in some porta cabins in a field, out of town, out of touch, but I,am rambling on a bit now

BELIAL · Post by **BELIAL** » 05 Dec 2008, 22:24

Captain Scarlet wrote:What worries me is how many smaller DO,s will close in the next couple of years o make SUPER DO,s??
Our DO is well past it,s sell by date and there is no room to swing a cat, so I just wonder if we could end up with the building being sold and stuck in some porta cabins in a field, out of town, out of touch, but I,am rambling on a bit now

Yep ,as sure as eggs is eggs MC's today, DO's the next day. And when all the new super hub DO's with their WSM's prove inefficient they will alter the structure of the workforce to sort out this tired old union dictated delivery model