Postal workers take Royal Mail to employment tribunal

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FOUR sacked postal workers at the centre of a three-year dispute with Royal Mail are taking their former employer to a tribunal to try to win their jobs back.

The Burslem delivery office workers were sacked in March 2008; six months after being suspended over allegations of bullying and harassment.

They were part of the so-called Burslem 12 who were suspended in September 2007.

The dispute sparked a series of strikes at the Scotia Road depot.


Six of the group later had their suspensions dropped and were allowed back to work, while a seventh man resigned to become a teacher.

But the other five were sacked and now four of them, Paul Malyon, Dave Scaratt, Dave Evans and Nick Gardner, are claiming unfair dismissal and demanding their exact jobs back at an employment tribunal starting on Monday.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) official Dave Condliffe said: "The members of staff who were sacked were involved with the union and we think this is the reason behind the dismissal.

"This is the first time their voices will be heard, because they haven't had a proper chance to have their say. We're confident we will get the right outcome.

"We have a long fight ahead and even if we are victorious the tribunal cannot force Royal Mail to give the jobs back.

"We would then have to lobby to get the jobs back."

The fifth sacked worker, Paul Dawson, of Ball Green, who twice climbed on the roof of the Burslem depot to demand a public apology from the firm, is not making an unfair dismissal claim.

In addition, CWU representative Jason Cornwall, of Sneyd Green, who was one of the six reinstated workers, is taking Royal Mail to a tribunal over a separate issue.

More than 80 employees at the Burslem depot staged a series of strikes in the weeks following the suspension of the Burslem 12.

It contributed to North Staffordshire's postal service being ranked as the worst in mainland Britain for a number of months.

The Birmingham employment tribunal is expected to last three weeks.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "All cases are handled in accordance with our conduct procedures, which are agreed with the CWU. We do not discuss individual cases."

[tommymac]

Good luck to the lads. It's been a long 3 years. Let's hope this is the begining of the end and we see them back in the office soon.

[milesy]

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "All cases are handled in accordance with our conduct procedures, which are agreed with the CWU. We do not discuss individual cases.

im currently going through appeal/tribunal claims and i can tell you royal mail DON'T follow their own conduct procedure at all!

[andy2007]

Good luck lads! I hope you finally get justice!

[POSTMAN]

It is amazing that this has gone on for so long.

[Lounge Lizard]

Bloody Sunday - 39 years
Burslem - a bit sooner we hope.

[Funked!]

Really hope you win this Burslem.

[postghost]

All the best lads!!

[brothermagrew]

Yes indeed all the best to the Burslem 4 but are they receiving official CWU representation at their tribunal?

[Night Tonic]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=28015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[axeman]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html

And of course the lying barstewards who call themselves managers and think they are a cut above everyone else (but in reality are prats) who will do anything including lying on oath to appease their masters ...are you one ? 'night tonic' my guess is your high on the list of contenders

[Night Tonic]

Or is it a case, when they accused her of being in with the management that they didn't pick these c***s for any overtime? Axey my friend, best not make too many assumptions Your guess is as irrelevant as mine.

[La Poste]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html

I particularly like this comment following the article:

"As someone who has dealt with RM in ETs I have to say to say they were all avoidable if managers had judged the incidents on the merits of each case, not on the people involved, and refrained from avoiding evidence that doesn't sit with their case. After all, managers are prosecution, jury, and judge so they can decide on guilt and sentence before the case has even been heard, regardless of whatever defence is made.

Legally all employee disciplinary cases have the right of appeal as laid down by ACAS. In most companies the appeal is dealt with by a higher manager, but RM have a dedicated appeals team within the HR function. Their primary function is to prevent cases going to ET if it looks like the ex-employee will win. It's cheaper to reinstate the employee than pay legal fees, solicitors aren't cheap believe me.

The problem with Royal Mail's grassroots management is that they are stuck in public-sector mindset where money doesn't matter. Add to what postal worker, newcastle has said about lack of managerial accountability you can see why services are suffering to make a profit. If Royal Mail want to give a great service, whilst making a profit then there really does need to be a shake-up of their junior management, ie 1st and 2nd level, the ones who deal with frontline staff and make alot of day-to-day operational decisions. Without changes at this level any great ideas from the top to maximise efficiency will get lost on the way down."

This is going to be a very interesting tribunal case, if it were nearer to where I live I would go and watch some of it. The public are allowed to sit in on these things as observers.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=28033" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;