Final meeting in a bid to avert Christmas postal strike

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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The Communication Workers Union (CWU) today warned that postal strikes in the lead up to Christmas will become a reality, if an acceptable agreement cannot be concluded at a final meeting with Royal Mail tomorrow morning.

Last week postal workers at the Mead Street depot in Bedminster in Bristol, who deliver mail to the BS4 and BS14 areas of the city, returned an 81% “Yes” vote in favour of strike action.

CWU Bristol area official David Wilshire said “This is a last ditch meeting. We are still way apart on the main issues at the core of this dispute and the business need to realise this”.

David went on to say “After consulting our members we have requested that a series of strikes is authorised. If a resolution is not reached at the meeting tomorrow it is likely that notice of strikes will be given soon after”.

Postal workers are angry about mail backlogs. They say their delivery rounds are too large, but Royal Mail has put it down to high levels of sick leave.

[UNION JACK]

Pity other areas of the cwu weren't as active as dave wilshere,move abit more south and help us out. DAVE FOR LEADER

[teesdale]

Wilshire. No. Encouraging this small number of people to go on strike over Christmas is a waste of time. The Daily Mail are going to love him. Royal Mail doesnt give a s**t if BS4 and BS14 get any mail for a whole month. Why isnt Wilshire still on the PEC. Why do people keep getting sacked for stage 3 at Bristol Mail Centre without a fight. Wilshire wont lose a penny during any strike days.

[skull]

Wilshire. No. Encouraging this small number of people to go on strike over Christmas is a waste of time. The Daily Mail are going to love him. Royal Mail doesnt give a s**t if BS4 and BS14 get any mail for a whole month. Why isnt Wilshire still on the PEC. Why do people keep getting sacked for stage 3 at Bristol Mail Centre without a fight. Wilshire wont lose a penny during any strike days.

A large percentage of the working class think strikes are a waste of time. We are seeing a massive attack on the working classes working conditions while the rich carry on getting richer. Working conditions/benifits are being knocked back to what they were decades ago. Is it coincidence, I think not.

[Ahebban]

Teesdale ... RM will care about getting mail shifted in Bristol, hence their contingency plan (which we know will be managers out on delivery for as long as it takes). Members do not go on strike at any time without good reason to do so. The fact that this issue has been going on for so long shows the contempt that RM has for its workforce, national agreements etc and the only language that RM understands is CWU members' withdrawal of their services.

In respect to Dave Wilshire .. I suspect the driving force for the current position has been CWU members at the respective delivery office(s) involved. As to what level of support he offers is a personal matter for him and not for others to judge.

As too what the press think .. who the fcuk cares what they think given what has come out in respect to their behaviour in recent years.

Colleagues at Bristol deserve the support of individual members as well as from national level. No matter how large or small the office or the strike action, as a Union we cannot afford to continue on our current course. If the fight-back needs to start at ground level, so be it - which is why I am happy to lend my support to colleagues in Bristol and will be encouraging my Branch to offer support too.