Cops at Motorola outhouse

[dudleylicious]

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Post strike latest: Police watching 'flash point' mail site

Published Date: 29 October 2009
By Scott McAngus
POLICE are "keeping an eye" on a controversial Royal Mail site amid fears it could become a flash point for picketing postal workers during the three-day strike.
The company has taken over part of the old Motorola factory in Bathgate at the Pyramids Business Park to house extra casual staff to help with the Christmas mail rush.

But the Communications Workers Union (CWU) said it had received reports from residents in Livingston saying they had mail delivered from workers in civilian clothes yesterday morning.

The union say no postal workers were out delivering at that time as they were still sorting mail in the delivery office and have accused Royal Mail of using the temporary workers to clear up the backlog of mail caused by last week's strike.

Around 250 postal workers in delivery offices in West Lothian will stage a 24-hour walkout from 9pm tomorrow (Friday).

The union threatened to picket the site if the company used agency workers to do the work of striking posties, and its understood Royal Mail approached police with safety concerns.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed West Lothian officers were paying the site "passing attention".

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail denied the union's claim saying: "The outhouse is operating today but is dealing with delayed mail only.

"Staff there are not doing the work of the postmen and women on strike today and are dealing with return to sender mail today which has been delayed."

But Kenny Logan, CWU's area delivery representative for the Lothian and Borders, said: "That's nonsense. People were getting letters at 7am and it wasn't from postmen and women.

"We've had calls that there is staff coming from that building going out to deliver the mail. There is serious concern about this and we are seeking legal advice on the legalities of picketing this particular office.

"Staff at the site are only supposed to be there solely to sort mail and the Christmas rush hasn't even started yet.

"Why is the company using a building of that size? It suggests to me that they have planned for this strike to go ahead for a long time, hence the difficulty of reaching an agreement with management.

"If Royal Mail is using agency workers this way it could face fines of up to £5,000 for each worker."





The full article contains 400 words and appears in West Lothian Herald and Post newspaper.
Page 1 of 1


Last Updated: 29 October 2009 5:15 PM
Source: West Lothian Herald and Post
Location: West Lothian




jockee,
My hoose 30/10/2009 15:01:56
Good bit of reporting -good to see this exposed

[fishtank]

I'm shocked and appalled Dudley and under our very noses!

[dudleylicious]

Wonder if any of the Livi boys can confirm what Kenny was saying

[Barry Trotter]

Funny the rozzers should be getting all wound up about this considering that two weeks ago lothian and borders police were asking postmen in that area to grass up people they suspected of growing cannabis whilst on their rounds.Didnt think that anyone would grass then and certainly dont know.

[chunk]

Why do see these ridiculous quotes in newspapers like "police braced for picket line trouble"
this is frivolous nonsense i think even the police must find the stories laughable .they know postman
are professionals and generally and historically have well ordered pickets.