Plymouth postal workers on picket lines again

[Geezer]

Go to The Page And Read The Comments....

Friday, October 30, 2009, 07:00

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/PO ... ticle.html

POSTAL workers have gone on strike again – with about 1,000 more threatening to join them over the next 48 hours.

Yesterday during the first wave of a planned three-day strike, hundreds either picketed or didn't turn up to work at the Plymstock Mail Depot.

Crisis talks have been continuing for the last couple of days between union leaders and Royal Mail but last night no deal had been struck.

Nationally and locally the workforce says it is is unhappy with a lack of commitment on Royal Mail's part over jobs, pay and modernisation.

One Plymouth postman, who did not wish to be identified, accused Royal Mail of wanting 'to rip the heart out of the company'.

Six hundreds workers went on strike between 4am yesterday and midnight.

Today a further 300 workers based at the manual data entry centre in Pennycomequick were due to strike.

Tomorrow another 500 workers at West Park, Plympton and Plymstock's delivery offices were also set to walk out.

The strikes will create chaos with regard to mail delivery in Plymouth, but workers are adamant they are doing what they must.

One Plymouth postman described Royal Mail's stance as disgraceful.

"They want to rip the heart out of the company," the 44-year-old said.

"Royal Mail seem to be all about intimidation and bullying. There's no respect towards the workforce.

"Hopefully with the pressure from outside, they will now listen to what we have been saying for years," he said.

"My main concern is about possible job losses. I have a wife and two children to support, as well as a mortgage.

"I need security and we don't feel like we have that security at the moment."

The postman said in an ideal world they wouldn't be on strike but added: "We feel we have no choice. We don't want to be out in the cold; we want to be doing our jobs. We're sorry we've got to this stage."

Chris Webb, divisional representative for the Communication Workers' Union (CWU), said: "The pressure is on Royal Mail and we think the message is getting across at last. We have the momentum now and the public seem to be on board.

"They back the postal workers to get what they deserve – a fair deal."

Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson said he believed the two sides had been close to a deal after marathon talks at the TUC ended at midnight on Tuesday. "We thought we'd reached something that was very promising," he said. "We came in on Wednesday morning to face a new set of demands which we were in the process of responding to when they decided that the strikes were still on."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Michael J - he was a very nasty poster on here that Concerned may well remember - I have added by tuppence worth about him, I hate people who are two faced.

[Geezer]

See someone put Chris webb's name on here as a poster of one of the comments:

posties please understand! you are the smelly ginger kids we avoided at school! we dont like you ! you have fleas ! and no girlfriends!
chris webb, cwu headquaters smellygingerville

Just shows how low some morons will go, They use someone else's name because they haven't got the BALL'S to post their own.

[osiris]

Postie plymouth and Neutral on the picket line. I will name the individual when I find his name which should not be difficult. You will note the four of us protestors did not cross the road to you loafing CWU, You all like a deranged mob crossed the road to us and yes as stated physically assualted a member of our group. Of course we shouted and pointed at you as would any decent citizen when their friend was being physically attacked. YOU ARE BULLIES as stated by some of your own staff who say unions are bullying others to stay out on strike. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST. Protest is not the cause of problems only when you get mindless morons on the other side who physically assault. Shall we get the police records of when your CWU collegue was warned of his behaviour. WHO did the POlice tell to get back to their side of the road - the CWU. The police supported our right to protest unlike your unruly mob who were intent on physical and verbal assault. Shame on you and shame on the offender appearing the next day accusing Royal Mail of bullying HYPOCRiTE! As for BBC reporters they contacted us. The voice of the sick to death public who are bored out of their minds at the endless whining. GO ON Stand by your words if I am slandering anyone take me to court - but then you can't because you know police records show one of your colleagues warned on behaviour and your MOB being told to move back from initimidating 4 peacefull protestors.

What's this all about ?

[Geezer]

Not a Clue.