Fenland's post to be disrupted

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Fenland's post to be disrupted from today with further strikes in Royal Mail protest

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POSTAL services across Fenland will be disrupted from today for the next 10 days after the Communications Workers Union announced further details of strike action.

Lorry drivers across the district are today joining Peterborough Delivery Office colleagues in striking for 24 hours, with more planned for the next week.

The action will affect the delivery and collection of mail throughout the PE postcode area.

The union claims the further strikes come in response to Royal Mail's "increasing attacks on its members' terms and conditions".

It also claims that Royal Mail has refused two offers to call of action in return for national talks, and that there is no alternative but to take further action.

Over the last fortnight a number of strikes have been carried out across the country in protest.

Adam Oakes, Area Delivery Representative, said: "Royal Mail is continuing to refuse to reach national agreements; they are now forcing the local postmen and women to take on extra work that they simply have not got time to complete within the duty times.

"Royal Mail continues to refuse to discuss in a reasonable manner, and in-line with national agreements, the workload of its staff.

"Instead, they prefer to bully and threaten members by attempting to stop their pay, an approach they have used in offices in the PE area including Kings Lynn, Peterborough and Skegness."

The action will be taken by union members over the next few days, with more offices joining in the dispute - Ely Delivery Office and Cambridge Mail Centre have carried ballots for industrial action and lorry drivers in the PE area have voted for action. They are joining Peterborough Delivery Office in taking the action.

Further planned action that will affect Fenland includes:

• Peterborough Network Drivers (HGV) will be taking industrial action from 4am on Wednesday for 24 hours.

• Peterborough Delivery Office (Werrington), members will take action from 10pm on Wednesday for 48 hours.

• Peterborough Collections Drivers will be taking action next Friday from 4am for 29 hours.