'No hope' in talks as strike goes on

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NEGOTIATIONS between Royal Mail bosses and union leaders have failed – meaning distribution staff will continue their strike indefinitely.

Royal Mail workers stood in the car park at Stoke's Leek Road depot for the second day of industrial action yesterday.

The official strike is over the future of 100 distribution staff who have been told their jobs will be moved to Wolverhampton.

Only 18 will be retained in Stoke if Royal Mail's plans go ahead.

Communication Workers' Union (CWU) divisional representative Mick Kavanagh met with Royal Mail bosses for the first round of talks at noon yesterday.

He said: "I was in discussion with the Royal Mail representatives for two-and-a-half hours.

"There is no hope. The situation cannot be moved on locally, so I am handing it to national union representatives to take over in the next couple of days.

"During that time the dispute will intensify.

"It's very disappointing that we cannot get a resolution, but the Royal Mail bosses are digging their heels in. I think they are working on a different agenda."

The distribution staff were again joined again by dozens of delivery staff, who stood with them on the picket for more than an hour from 5.30am yesterday before returning to work.

Royal Mail services in postcodes ST1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 are being affected by the action.

Distribution driver and father-of-one Mark Norcop, aged 43, from Biddulph, said: "It's a bit disappointing there doesn't seem to be any progress from Royal Mail.

"They just want to enforce change without any sort of discussion.

"I have worked here for 26 years and I got offered the last job available at the site, but I want to see more people employed here.

"We do not want to turn the public against us, we just want them to realise this is a really big issue for Stoke. Royal Mail is being unreasonable."

CWU branch secretary Andy Plant said: "Our resolve for industrial action hasn't waned. We want more opportunity for work within the ST area.

"This is an indefinite dispute and we are looking for Royal Mail to follow the national agreement to discuss changes with us."

Distribution driver Jason Cotton, aged 49, from Northwood, said: "I have never known this business to treat people so badly.

"Everyone is angry about it and the idea of making people drive to Wolverhampton is crazy."

James Beresford, aged 23, from Burslem, said: "I have worked here for four years and I am at the bottom of the ladder of seniority.

"If I want to remain in full-time employment I have to travel to Wolverhampton every day. I think it's disgusting.

"They are asking me to travel there for less pay. That's not an option for me. I'd rather get a part-time job here in Stoke.

"I've experienced a couple of days of industrial action before, but this is the first time I have been in an indefinite strike.

"The support from all the other workers and the public is great. It's getting us all through."

Strikers were joined by crew members from the cash transit department at the Leek Road depot.

They staged a protest in their own time when shifts finished at 3pm yesterday.

Their operation is facing closure and workers have been offered alternative jobs in Sheffield, Birmingham and Chester.

They are currently completing a ballot on possible industrial action, for which results will be announced on August 21.