Grantham posties on strike today

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Friday, 11.50am - POSTMEN in Grantham are on a 24 hour strike today and Monday as a dispute with Post Office bosses comes to a head.
The strike began at 4am today and postmen are picketing the sorting and delivery office in Wharf Road to prevent any packages being taken out.

Postmen in Grantham were balloted by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over strike action with the majority of people voting in favour.

Steve Blower, postman and area delivery rep, said he and his colleagues are striking in protest at cuts and 'imposed change on the workforce'.

He said: "The Royal Mail are imposing massive cuts. People are frightened and worried about their jobs - especially the prospect of compulsory redundancies.

"A total of 102 people are on strike here today. The postmen don't want to be on strike but the cuts are to such an extent that they believe they cannot carry on without a response and this is they only response they have."

Mr Blower said delivery men are being told they must cut the time it takes them to complete rounds, which means they simply don't have enough time to do their jobs properly.

He also says postmen in Grantham are being made to make their deliveries later even though the workers and customers would rather have their post first thing in the morning.

Mr Blower said: "Royal Mail are deliberately worsening the service. They don't care at all about the customer.

"There are rural areas in Lincolnshire now where people don't get their mail until four or five in the afternoon."

Postmen in Grantham are going to be balloted for a second round of strike action between September 16 - 30.

Royal Mail's operations director Paul Tolhurst said: "We are sorry that some customers faced disruption because of strike action but we remain determined to do everything possible to ease the impact of any disruption.

"We again urge the CWU to call off its plans for further strike action and to stop blocking change and modernisation."