Postal workers being balloted on strike action

[Geezer]

http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free ... 600076.php

Published: Mon, Sep 21, 2009

By Alan Rodgers

ROYAL Mail employees in West Tyrone have just two weeks to decide whether or not they should support a proposal for industrial action by the Communication Workers Union.

Ballot papers have been issued to the Omagh and Strabane members. It is estimated that the CWU has almost 100% membership among Royal Mail staff in the two areas.

Speaking to the TyroneHerald at the weekend, the Union's West Branch Secretary, Billy Hannaway, said a decision on what form of action is taken and where would be taken when the results of the vote are known.

"We will be told the result by an independent scrutineer and it will then by up to our headquarters to decide on how the industrial action proceeds, if it is voted on," he said.

"There is a strong mood on the ground about this issue, but strike action isn't a route that we will be taking lightly. It will be forced upon us by Royal Mail.

"The CWU is certainly not against change, but the problem lies in that there have been no consultations on the proposals which have been made. That is why we have had to consider industrial action," he added.

Concerns have growing during recent months among the CWU members on a number of modernisation measures being introduced by Royal Mail. It claims that cuts in jobs and pay are being taken without consultation.

While commentators say that an agreement is still a long way off, Mr Hannaway says that some slow progress on the issues has been.

"A settlement is obviously the preferred option at the moment and some talks are taking place. But the progress is very slow indeed," he added.

"The main concern that workers have is the fact that these changes are being made without any negotiation or consultation with them. That isn't acceptable.

"Our members have two weeks to make their choice and then the result will be known within a couple of days."

The Royal Mail says the numbers of letters and parcels its core business delivers are falling by 10% each year and maintains that staffing cuts are inevitable to respond to this decline.

The Communications Workers Union says Royal Mail has yet to agree with it the extent and nature of the cuts.