Peterborough postal workers wildcat walkout

[topgeezer]

http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/33817/ ... officially

Postal workers in Peterborough walk out unofficially
by Annette Mackin

Some 170 post workers in Peterborough have walked out on unofficial strike.

Members of the Communication and Workers Union (CWU) at the Werrington office in Peterborough downed tools today, Friday, after a union rep was suspended.

The strike looks set to continue over the weekend as strikers refuse to return to work until management restore the suspended rep.

Amanda Hill, secretary of CWU’s Eastern no.5 branch, spoke to Socialist Worker just before addressing a strikers’ meeting.

“We’re about to tell members that the management aren’t budging,” she said.

“Our position is we’re prepared to negotiate, but not back down.

“We want to get the rep back to work.”

As of Friday evening, Royal Mail management have not tried to move mail to other local offices – the CWU says that these offices are short staffed as it is.

The union has told members in the area to alert them if the business attempts to move Peterborough’s mail to their office.

No postal worker should handle Peterborough’s mail.

[BernardBresslaw]

http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/33817/ ... officially

Postal workers in Peterborough walk out unofficially
by Annette Mackin

No postal worker should handle Peterborough’s mail.

As someone who works in a local sorting office how would one go about achieving this? While I support entirely the walk out we are still getting scab mail delivered to us for delivery. Today it was delivered as normal, albeit in minuscule volume compared to normal, but it still felt wrong to even be doing that.

I come from a weak office, despite the best efforts of my rep, who is doing a damn good job considering, so making a stand on my own is not an option.

Thoughts?

[mandelsons_toenail]

Handling other mail means processing through other offices CSS machines, either other mail centres or mpu offices that have sorting machines.

Generally other offices then refuse to handle this "scab mail"

I get what you are saying about handling mail this way, but there isn't an issue as such until mail is attempted to be processed elsewhere.

That's when other offices (mail centres locally) would and will walk.

If there was an issue at an office with CSS machines local to Peterborough, then I guess members would refuse to handle mail and another suspension is on the cards, and more walkouts.

It's a domino effect.

This is why sticking together is so important and being a union.

Sadly some people cannot see past next weeks pay slip.

Of course the only way to support such brothers and sisters from Peterborough is to not do any overtime.

This would show solidarity without walking until such time arises that a walkout is not an option.

Go Peterborough