New postal strike is set to go-ahead

[Geezer]

http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/New-post ... 5561233.jp

Published Date: 18 August 2009

A POSTAL strike is due to hit Lynn on Friday as part of the latest wave of industrial action from the Communication Workers Union, eastern branch.
Lynn delivery office in Austin Fields will take the action from 3am that day for 24 hours, meaning postal deliveries on both Friday and Saturday may be affected.

The latest action – the third to hit the town this month – was announced by the union on Friday in response to Royal Mail's increasing attacks on its members terms and conditions, it says.

The union feels that it has no other alternative than to take further action, as Royal Mail continues to "refuse to reach national agreements with the national union and has also refused two offers from the CWU to call off all action in return for national talks".

CWU is also alarmed at the stance taken by Royal Mail in a national meeting when it told the national union that "its aim was to down size the business".

The union believes this can only worsen the public service and the terms and conditions of its members and put job security at risk.

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."

Other offices in the east are also planning action over the same period.

Royal Mail have condemned the industrial action.

A spokesman said modernisation was needed in the face of falling mail volumes around the world.

He added that the company continued to work hard to make the union's leadership realise the scale and urgency of the changes it needed to make.

Its future rested on providing customers with high quality, reliable services at great value-for-money, he said.

He added: "During the summer when mail volumes are low there is less work to do.

"By simply asking each delivery postman to deliver to one or two extra streets, some of their colleagues' summer holidays can be covered without overtime."