Postal workers walk out in Plymouth over harassment claims

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Postal- ... z2YAbsmwzh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

POSTAL workers across Plymouth will be balloted on whether to take strike action following a second walkout.

Workers formed a picket line outside the North Central delivery office in Plymstock amid allegations of staff being "intolerably bullied and harassed" by Royal Mail management.
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Staff claim they are being asked to take on the postal rounds of those who are sick or on holiday, in addition to their own.

Yesterday's 9am walkout at the huge Breakwater Road site came just two weeks after strike action at the West Park office over fears it could be closed.

The demands on Plymstock-based workers are putting "unbelievable levels of pressure" on staff, says the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

Chris Webb, divisional representative for the union, said inspectors had come to assess the situation.

The workplace coaches, working on behalf of Royal Mail and the CWU, agreed that workloads were an issue and not staff performance, said Mr Webb.

The CWU said the unofficial walkout lasted an hour before the action was called off.

The union said it had decided to take the matter beyond individual offices.

It will be holding a ballot across the city to determine whether to order a strike.

The union said the West Park, and North Central and Plymouth City delivery offices in Plymstock would be balloted, along with Tavistock, St Austell and Fowey.

"Members are being pressurised," Mr Webb said. "We had people on the walkout who have done 40 years of service. They can't take it.

"A lot of the time, the additional mail they are given is not delivered and that is impacting on the service provision."

CWU's Plymouth and East Cornwall branch secretary, Ralph Ferrett, added: "It is disappointing that hot on the heels of West Park our members in the Plymouth area are still being treated this badly.

"They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect at work and our customers deserve delivery routes that mean they get their mail delivered every day."

The Royal Mail challenged the CWU's account of events, saying the walkout lasted only 20 minutes.

Spokeswoman Val Bodden said: "We can confirm that colleagues walked out for 20 minutes [yesterday] morning at the North Central delivery office. Staff returned to work and we delivered all of today's mail.

"Royal Mail is fully committed to the process of trying to resolve concerns of postal workers based in Plymouth by continuing to follow the national jointly agreed framework with the Communication Workers Union."

[El-Bandito]

Welcome to the 21st century delivery methods Plymouth

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Welcome to the 21st century delivery methods Plymouth

Unsure if you are supporting or decrying them, I hope the former.

[El-Bandito]

Welcome to the 21st century delivery methods Plymouth

Unsure if you are supporting or decrying them, I hope the former.

What do you think TBT?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

the former - supporting.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Think we'll all be following suit soon enough.