Bristol faces another postal strike

[Geezer]

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage ... ticle.html

Friday, September 25, 2009, 14:00


A postal strike will be held next week in Bristol.

More than 15,000 workers across the country will walk out for 24 hours in a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and services, the Communication Workers Union said.

Some postal workers will be on strike for the first time since the bitter row flared earlier this year.

The CWU is balloting all its postal members for a national strike after accusing the Royal Mail of cutting jobs and pay and hitting services. The result is due early next month.

Monday will see the 14th week of industrial action by postal workers since the start of the dispute, although the biggest bout of unrest will be on Tuesday when up to 12,000 workers in London will walk out, joined by staff in Bognor Regis, Cambridge, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Skegness, Kent, Ayr and Kilmarnock in Scotland as well as van drivers in Birmingham, Bridgend, Bristol, Nottingham, Chelmsford, Glasgow, Leeds and Swindon.

The union has accused Royal Mail of cutting jobs without agreement, a charge the company denies.

Talks between the two sides will be held next week, with time running out to avert the threat of nationwide strikes

[skint]

[Geezer]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 3&start=60" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



TO ALL CWU MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES



Dear Colleagues

WORKING OVERTIME DURING & FOLLOWING STRIKE ACTION AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS

Next week on 28 & 29 September a national day of strike action will take place for those who have already balloted locally. In the South West this means : Plymouth , Bristol and Swindon

LAST TIME THERE WAS STRIKE ACTION SOME CWU MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED TO DO OVERTIME TO HANDLE STRIKE MAIL/DIVERTS. THEIR ACTIONS UNDERMINED THE SACRIFICE OF OTHERS. THE BRANCH VIEW IS VERY CLEAR ON THIS MATTER :

 Overtime is voluntary. No one can be forced to do it
 Examine your own consciences and decide not to handle such mail

THE LOCALISED DISPUTES HAVE HAD THE EFFECT OF FORCING ROYAL MAIL TO NEGOTIATE ON ALL THE ISSUES IN DISPUTE. THOSE TAKING ACTION ARE MAKING A SACRIFICE NOW WHICH IS BENEFITTING YOU. INDEED, THEIR EFFORTS MAY MEAN A NATIONAL DISPUTE IS AVOIDED.

PLEASE DO NOT DECIDE TO BENEFIT FINANCIALLY AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. DO NOT VOLUNTEER TO HANDLE DIVERTS. IT IS YOUR CHOICE – YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HANDLE SUCH MAIL.

THIS DOES INCLUDE ANY PRE-LISTED OVERTIME WHICH HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO CLEAR STRIKE MAIL

IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT TO DO OR YOU ARE PRESSURISED CONTACT YOUR AREA REP OR THE BRANCH FOR ADVICE

[Stormproof]

My office are out again on Tuesday, there are a lot of people at work.