Royal Mail's Bridgwater staff stage mass walk out

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-18921355" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

About 100 staff at the Royal Mail delivery office in Bridgwater, Somerset, have walked out in protest at a colleague's suspension.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said workers were also in dispute over time off for medical appointments.

"It's an unofficial dispute that's going to affect mail to postcodes TA7,8 and 9," the CWU's Dave Wilshire said.

Royal Mail said it was disappointed and was trying to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

A spokesman said: "We cannot discuss the detail of individual personnel cases but we do have robust procedures, agreed with the Communication Workers Union, to deal with such matters.

"It is unfair on Royal Mail customers that colleagues have decided to withdraw their labour when discussions about concerns raised by the staff representative are still ongoing."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Bristol and District Branch Communication Workers Union Press release of July 20th 2012 at 8am
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"Friends,

At 7.30am this morning 100 Royal Mail workers at Bridgwater Delivery Office in Somerset walked out in a lightning protest strike against Royal Mail managers' bullying and breaking agreements with their trade union the CWU.

The postmen and women, many with 30 years service, are angry that a postman with 25 years service has been suspended from duty for an alleged swearing incident, when the other postman concerned has written to Royal Mail asking for the case to be dropped and the postman re-instated.

CWU members believe a heavy-handed disciplinary policy, which currently includes Royal Mail posting eight managers to a workplace designed for four, has led to an increased managers' bullying and harassment culture.

Royal Mail are also blatantly breaking agreements with the union on daily staffing levels-called 'lapsing' in Royal Mail, training, and annual leave.

The final issue that must be addressed is Royal Mail changing their policy on staff hospital visits without negotiating this change with the CWU. Previously staff were allowed sufficient paid time off to attend hospital: now they are being forced to go to hospital in their own time which only serves to increase workers' worry and stress.

Dave Wilshire, Bristol and District CWU Branch Secretary, said:

"The overwhelming support for today's walkout at Bridgwater Delivery Office only confirms our belief that there is something radically wrong with the way this workplace is managed. Whilst this strike is first and foremost a decisive protest against an unfair suspension, the underlying and fundamental issues of breaking national agreements with the CWU and heavy-handed bullying managers must be addressed sooner or later: we would like to resolve this today." "

For further details contact Dave Wilshire on 07909 525 740

or Dave Chapple, Branch Chair on 0777 6304 276

[fishtank]

No resolution to dispute at Bridgwater and members meeting tomorrow at 0445

And...

Can't believe I quoted the wrong postcodes to the press should be TA4, TA5 and TA6

[POSTMAN]

Well done,see,no need to be scared.

[fishtank]

Strike action at Bridgwater delivery office continuing today

http://twitter.com/bristolcwu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Mail staff walk over 'bullying bosses' http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news ... ull/121697" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Angry postal workers staged a spontaneous strike today in protest over what they claim is management bullying and agreement breaking linked with a suspension.

Around 100 Royal Mail workers at Bridgwater Delivery Office in Somerset walked out at 7.30am - mirroring another unofficial strike in March over the sacking of a colleague.

At the time they reported the three-an-a-half hour stoppage had been successful and bosses had agreed to bring the sacked man's appeal process forward. But the issue has since escalated.

In a statement to the Morning Star today the CWU members said: "The postmen and women, many with 30 years' service, are angry that a postman with 25 years' service has been suspended from duty for an alleged swearing incident.

"The other postman concerned has written to Royal Mail asking for the case to be dropped and the postman re-instated."

They added: "We believe a heavy-handed disciplinary policy, which currently includes Royal Mail posting eight managers to a workplace designed for four, has led to an increased managers' bullying and harassment culture.

"Royal Mail is also blatantly breaking agreements with the union on daily staffing levels - known as 'lapsing' - training, staff hospital visists and annual leave."

Bristol and District CWU branch secretary Dave Wilshire said: "The overwhelming support for the walkout only confirms our belief that there is something radically wrong with the way this workplace is managed."

[TrueBlueTerrier]

BREAKING: “100% result” as Somerset postal worker reinstated after unofficial walkout

http://union-news.co.uk/2012/07/breakin ... l-walkout/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Around 100 postal workers in Somerset have voted to return to work after a suspended colleague was reinstated following a three-day unofficial walkout.

UnionNews understands high-level negotiations took place during the weekend involving a senior CWU official and Royal Mail HR managers over the dispute at the Bridgwater delivery office.

Those talks resolved that the postman – who has 25 years of service – would not be subject to severe disciplinary action over an alleged swearing incident at work.

Royal Mail managers have also agreed to discuss separate concerns over union allegations of over-bearing management practices and restrictions on the right of staff to take time off for medical appointments.

Dave Chapple, chair of CWU’s Bristol and District Branch, told UnionNews: “Our concerns are being taken seriously and the Bridgwater delivery office is now under the microscope.

“After the management’s aggressive stance on Friday, when the walkout started, the manager in charge has made clear that they’ve drawn a line under the action and they’ve lifted the threat of any disciplinary consequences for members arising from the strike.

“For us, it’s – job done.”

More details to come.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

POSTAL WORKERS WILDCAT STRIKE VICTORY
The Bridgwater 48-hour wildcat strike ended successfully this morning at 6am, with an overwhelming vote by CWU members to endorse shop steward Dave Chapple's recommendation to return on the following terms:

1. The suspended postman would be returned to work immediately with any disciplinary investigations completed within 48 hours.

2. National talks would begin covering all major industrial relations problems at Bridgwater Delivery Office, including CWU concerns of heavy-handed management, breaking agreements with the CWU, un-agreed cuts in hours, and hospital appointments.

Sunday's talks, involving CWU acting Deputy General Secretary Ray Ellis and national officer Bob Gibson, finally broke through Royal Mail's previously aggressive stance, and paved the way to get the suspended postman back to work without the threat of recriminations against any CWU members for taking part in the walkout.
Dave Wilshire, Bristol CWU Branch Secretary, said:
"Royal Mail can say what it likes but the fact is they would not talk to us about lifting this suspension until the strike went into it's second day: that's a fact.

However, to be positive, It is good to hear from Dave Chapple at Bridgwater Delivery Office that the return to work today is proceeding smoothly without major problems. This is a major Royal Mail turnaround from last Friday, when it looked like we might be out on strike for a week or more.

Our suspended CWU member will return to work today with the threat of serious disciplinary action removed: the other issues members were on strike about should now be addressed.
The tremendous solidarity shown once again by 110 Bridgwater postal workers has, we believe, forced Royal Mail to show some common sense: we hope this approach continues!"

[fishtank]

Textbook example on how to deal with one of those ridiculous and unwarranted suspension cases that pop up on here from time to time.
Of course it takes a unified office and a strong,supportive branch,both of which seem to be in short supply at the moment.