Christmas strike on the cards, says union

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news ... ays_union/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SWINDON’S postal service could be repeatedly disrupted in the run up to Christmas unless Royal Mail bosses agree to workers’ demands over conditions, a union chief warned yesterday.

Chris Rye, the branch secretary of the Communication Workers' Union , said workers may take further industrial action following the one-day walk-out which was due to end at 4am today.

Mr Rye said about 95 per cent of a total of 870 employees at the Dorcan mail centre and a logistics depot next door went on strike.

Another planned strike, set to begin on Monday, could see 70 delivery drivers refuse to work at the Wheatstone Road depot for a further 48 hours.

Mr Rye said: “From our point of view we want the dispute sorted before Christmas – but if we have to strike towards Christmas we will just have to do it.

“People’s terms and conditions are being eroded all over the place. We are willing to stand up and fight.

“I think the turn-out for the strike has been fantastic – there are many workers from Oxford and Reading and their support is astounding.”

Speaking from a picket line outside the depot, Mr Rye said the union wanted to see negotiation over modernisation plans.

He has previously cited confusion over contracts for staff who moved to the mail centre from Oxford and Reading, and changes to earning potential as reasons for the strike.

Area distribution representative Dermot Fuller said: “We are being constantly bullied by management from top to bottom.

“We are left with no alternative but to take this action. There is a lot of weekend working coming in and we are losing family-friendly jobs. We are planning to strike on Monday and Tuesday.

“The strike must be having a massive impact. Most heavy deliveries won’t be moving.”

CWU area processing representative Jason White added: “We are striking on local and national issues, including modernisation, harassment and bullying of staff and lack of space.

“They have put three mail centres into one at Dorcan and there is not enough capacity for it.

“We have no idea when there will be answer to the dispute. Striking will be sporadic.”

Royal Mail has called for an end to local strikes and has accused the CWU of damaging customer confidence and blocking change.

Royal Mail’s operations director Paul Tolhurst said: “It is now more clear than ever that the CWU is focusing all its efforts on strike action and political posturing. Their claimed support for change is no more than lip service but their determination to damage services and undermine the future health of the business and the universal service is increasing.”

A further Royal Mail statement said: “More than 90 per cent of Royal Mail’s people will be working normally on each of the coming days of local strike action and the company will continue to take every possible step to mitigate the impact of strikes in the areas where the CWU is taking action.”