URGENT APPEAL

[TrueBlueTerrier]

RE: Bridgwater Delivery Office Official Dispute – Financial Support Needed



Dear Colleagues,



110 CWU Members out of 120 Postal Workers at Bridgwater Delivery office are currently under severe attack from Royal Mail. They have taken five days strike action so far, following a 79.3% “Yes” vote.



The main issues are Royal Mail's un-agreed implementation of a drastic summer savings plan, allegations about bullying and a “Performance Management” regime and refusal to pay monies owed for mail sequencing savings. These issues have involved Royal Mail selectively breaking both Local and National Agreements with the CWU.



Local representatives, officials from the Bristol & District Amalgamated Branch, CWU Divisional Representatives and Bob Gibson National CWU Officer have attempted to come to an acceptable compromise agreement, including substantial summer only savings, only to be rebuffed by the employer.



Meanwhile Bridgwater CWU reps Darren Granter, Dave Chapple, CWU Committee Members and Striking Postal Workers are allegedly being harassed on a daily basis. There is a feeling that this is to try and provoke wildcat walkouts in order to weaken the official balloted action. Furthermore, CWU members have complained of being watched during their deliveries, during grace breaks, and at gate meetings with officials, and even at a toilet cubicle. They have had overtime denied for spurious reasons and been summarily taken off their delivery. Also some new temporary contracts staff feel they are being placed under severe pressure to attend work on strike days.



Attendances on the Bridgwater picket lines have been excellent and have ranged from 35 up to 70 people; the memberships' continued solidarity has shocked Royal Mail. Consequently, the CWU and wider trade union movement cannot afford to stand by in the light of the Con-Dem Government's privatisation attempts and let the strong CWU membership at Bridgwater Delivery Office be starved back to work.



Further strikes are planned to continue the pressure on Royal mail to negotiate a fair settlement for Postal Workers. Therefore to assist workers who are involved in this protracted dispute please can you help and ensure that you give all you can to the official “Bridgwater Delivery Office Dispute Fund” this will keep morale to a maximum during the next crucial few weeks.



Please can you make out cheques to – “Bridgwater Trades Union Council” and sent to –



Dave Chapple CWU

1 Blake Place

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5AU



You can also send messages of support to Dave Chapple at davechapple@btinternet.com or telephone 0777 6304 276 or to Dave Wilshire Branch Secretary, CWU Bristol & District Amalgamated Branch at davewilshirecwu@btconnect.com or telephone 07909525740



Finally, we are requesting speakers from the Trade Union Movement and supporters of the Postal Workers to contact Dave Chapple to make arrangements to attend picket lines and for CWU reps to speak at your meetings



KEVIN BEAZER DAVE WILSHIRE CHRIS WEBB

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL SECRETARY BRISTOL & DISTRICT BRANCH SECRETARY DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

[Sidley]

Cheques? No paypal?

[mpl1111]

why are all these problems never in cushy mail centres!! just another ordinary day in a delivery office bullying&harrasment by management union reps in the pockets of dom. all these things happen all the time in delivery offices nothing new. cwu sold out delivery offices in last deal so good luck finding support in next ballot!!

[hans solo]

RE: Bridgwater Delivery Office Official Dispute – Financial Support Needed



Dear Colleagues,



110 CWU Members out of 120 Postal Workers at Bridgwater Delivery office are currently under severe attack from Royal Mail. They have taken five days strike action so far, following a 79.3% “Yes” vote.



The main issues are Royal Mail's un-agreed implementation of a drastic summer savings plan, allegations about bullying and a “Performance Management” regime and refusal to pay monies owed for mail sequencing savings. These issues have involved Royal Mail selectively breaking both Local and National Agreements with the CWU.



Local representatives, officials from the Bristol & District Amalgamated Branch, CWU Divisional Representatives and Bob Gibson National CWU Officer have attempted to come to an acceptable compromise agreement, including substantial summer only savings, only to be rebuffed by the employer.



Meanwhile Bridgwater CWU reps Darren Granter, Dave Chapple, CWU Committee Members and Striking Postal Workers are allegedly being harassed on a daily basis. There is a feeling that this is to try and provoke wildcat walkouts in order to weaken the official balloted action. Furthermore, CWU members have complained of being watched during their deliveries, during grace breaks, and at gate meetings with officials, and even at a toilet cubicle. They have had overtime denied for spurious reasons and been summarily taken off their delivery. Also some new temporary contracts staff feel they are being placed under severe pressure to attend work on strike days.



Attendances on the Bridgwater picket lines have been excellent and have ranged from 35 up to 70 people; the memberships' continued solidarity has shocked Royal Mail. Consequently, the CWU and wider trade union movement cannot afford to stand by in the light of the Con-Dem Government's privatisation attempts and let the strong CWU membership at Bridgwater Delivery Office be starved back to work.



Further strikes are planned to continue the pressure on Royal mail to negotiate a fair settlement for Postal Workers. Therefore to assist workers who are involved in this protracted dispute please can you help and ensure that you give all you can to the official “Bridgwater Delivery Office Dispute Fund” this will keep morale to a maximum during the next crucial few weeks.



Please can you make out cheques to – “Bridgwater Trades Union Council” and sent to –



Dave Chapple CWU

1 Blake Place

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5AU



You can also send messages of support to Dave Chapple at davechapple@btinternet.com or telephone 0777 6304 276 or to Dave Wilshire Branch Secretary, CWU Bristol & District Amalgamated Branch at davewilshirecwu@btconnect.com or telephone 07909525740



Finally, we are requesting speakers from the Trade Union Movement and supporters of the Postal Workers to contact Dave Chapple to make arrangements to attend picket lines and for CWU reps to speak at your meetings



KEVIN BEAZER DAVE WILSHIRE CHRIS WEBB

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL SECRETARY BRISTOL & DISTRICT BRANCH SECRETARY DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

escalate the action

[blackadder]

its the same at every delivery office what they on strike about. i applaud the way they on strike but it has to be a national thing otherwise nothing will change

[Stammerking]

sort out a paypal method and I will gladly send a fiver!

[gand]

One out all out!

[cliffeyhez]

From little acorns.......Cheque on way

[Dorset Plodder]

Good luck with your efforts lads. Nice to see an Office that actually sticks together, when it has to! Hope you get what you're pushing for!

[74tower]

And what happens when the next strike happens ? A local dispute like this should be supported financially by the union if financial support is needed , are colleagues elsewhere going to get financial support if they walk out for the same reason ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

And what happens when the next strike happens ? A local dispute like this should be supported financially by the union if financial support is needed , are colleagues elsewhere going to get financial support if they walk out for the same reason ?

Yes

There is a hardship fund set up for most protracted strikes, or local actions. You normally have to approach your branch through the rep. Then of course there is the Rowland Hill Fund as well, although not sure if would support an application caused by strike action.

Edit: Not sure if the CMA do it though, but then I don't think they have ever been on strike. Although they might support the General Strike that UNITE keep promoting.

[ysbrydtawel]

My manager asked me if I could go to Bridgewater for a week the other day (which would have meant almost 2 hours' driving), so I said I couldn't.

[UnhappyGremlin]

My manager asked me if I could go to Bridgewater for a week the other day (which would have meant almost 2 hours' driving), so I said I couldn't.

If I'd been asked q question like that, the amount of driving it would require would have been irrelevant.
I'd have just laughed in their face.
I'm not a scab, and never will be. I support them fully, and wouldn't undermine what they're doing.

[crazyshrew]

My manager asked me if I could go to Bridgewater for a week the other day (which would have meant almost 2 hours' driving), so I said I couldn't.

If I'd been asked q question like that, the amount of driving it would require would have been irrelevant.
I'd have just laughed in their face.
I'm not a scab, and never will be. I support them fully, and wouldn't undermine what they're doing.

We were all asked in WTLL last week. never known 20 pairs of shoes become so fascinating all in one go

[crazyshrew]

Oh, are postal orders acceptable (i'm too young to do cheques)
Will gladly send a few quid