Mail strike possible - Oxford:Confirmed for 27th Sept

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/106547 ... _possible/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OXFORD: The results of a ballot for industrial action over the sacking of two postmen will be announced today.

Oxford East delivery office workers called the ballot after the dismissals over what Royal Mail said was “wilful delay of mail”.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) county branch secretary Chad Croom said he expected the 110 workers to back action. Union officers could opt to strike for the first time since 2009, he said.

Staff cover the city, Witney, Kidlington and Thame.


Meanwhile, the 888 CWU workers across the county will be balloted on a national strike over pay and proposed privitisation.

Action would mean a strike by October 10.

[PhilthyPhil]

Staff cover the city, Witney, Kidlington and Thame.

Err, no they don't. East Oxford covers, not surprisingly, the Eastern side of Oxford and Headington. Stupid Oxford Mail writing crap again

[Lincox]

I reckon your right Phil. I lived in Witney many years ago and it was always deemed as West Oxfordshire. Going down that way this week end, so will pop in and make sure it has,nt been moved.

[DirtyHarry]

Let me see if I have this right.
A business that routinely allows its managers to 'wilfully delay the mail', sacks two postmen for allegedly having done what managers routinely do?
Hardly fair, is it?

[beanmuncha]

i think there is more than 888 members in the CWU

Meanwhile, the 888 CWU workers across the county will be balloted on a national strike over pay and proposed privitisation.

or does that mean only 888 of us do any work??

[Lincox]

It says across the COUNTY, not countRy.

[beanmuncha]

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourto ... ck_action/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sixty-five Oxford East Delivery Office Communication Workers Union members backed action, compared with 20 against.

The action was called following the dismissals over what Royal Mail said was “wilful delay of mail”.

County union branch secretary Chad Croom said its members would discuss the next step, which could be “anything up to and including strike action”.

Mr Croom said he hoped this could be avoided through assurances that staff would not be treated in a similar way again.


Royal Mail spokesman Mike Norman said the move was “disappointing” but was hopeful the issue could be resolved.

[Lincox]

What about the two that have been dismissed. Were they guilty of wilful delay or has this again been engineered by over zealous management.

[dmfco]

What about the two that have been dismissed. Were they guilty of wilful delay or has this again been engineered by over zealous management.

One postie was sacked for 8 D2D items not being delivered. The other was something to do with a york not being unloaded correctly from a van. Both over 25 years clean conduct.

The acting DOM wilfully delayed 80,000 D2D at the same time but is back doing the same job. No wonder these guys are pissed off!

[She Raa]

What about the two that have been dismissed. Were they guilty of wilful delay or has this again been engineered by over zealous management.

One postie was sacked for 8 D2D items not being delivered. The other was something to do with a york not being unloaded correctly from a van. Both over 25 years clean conduct.

The acting DOM wilfully delayed 80,000 D2D at the same time but is back doing the same job. No wonder these guys are pissed off!

Is this fact?

And could you find out anymore info on this please.

[dmfco]

I work in a neighbouring office and have spoke to many staff and reps from East Oxford while collecting mail.

I would say its fact as even a manager has said the same.

[Burge]

Quoting from a copy of the ballot update issued to East Oxford CWU members:

"both have been dismissed and have subsequently lost their appeals through Royal Mail's internal appeals procedure. A process in which we have lost all confidence in it being fair and impartial. [both postmen] had worked for Royal Mail for a combined total of 58 years, both with clean conduct records and by management's own admission both are "conscientious and reliable" workers."

"Previously other employees of Royal Mail have been shown leniency and dismissal has been used as a last resort. In fact a manager from the same office, suspended for a very similar offence as [postman #1] is now back at work at East Oxford."

"If you were to face similar charges Royal Mail are making it very clear that at East Oxford you will face dismissal. No account of any mitigating circumstances or defence put forward by your union reps will be given any consideration. In fact in the summing up of one of the cases [postman #2], the dismissing manager stated there was a zero tolerance policy." (edit:This same manager adjudicated in the 3rd case of the acting DOM suspended and now back at work after a similar charge of wilful delay as [postman #1] ).

"We now have the ballot for industrial action sanctionned by our headquarters. The ballot asked for both members to be re-instated while a review of the cases takes place and assurances given to the members of the East Oxford Delivery Office that they will in future be treated with the respect that is enshrined within Royal Mail's own procedures and that a zero tolerance policy plays no part."

"what's happened to [postman #1 and #2] could happen to you tomorrow!".

Strike action set for Friday 27th September.

East Oxford CWU members are asking for 1) confirmation in writing from the regional management there is no zero tolerance policy in Royal Mail's procedures. 2) an independent investigation into the 3 cases and 3) asking Royal Mail to agree to re-instate [postman #2] if he's successful with his employment tribunal for unfair dismissal.

[postman #1] is not going to an employment tribunal. He admitted not delivering 8 D2D items. [postman #2] has been done on the basis of CCTV footage which only the union reps and management have seen and both sides have very different interpretations of what it shows. I have no more information on that.

[POSTMAN]

Planned industrial action - East Oxford Delivery Office (OX3, OX4 and parts of OX44) Friday 27th September
Royal Mail is disappointed that members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) have voted in favour of industrial action at East Oxford Delivery Office tomorrow.

If the action goes ahead, we have contingency plans in place to help minimise any disruption to mail services in the area. Managers and other volunteers will be delivering to as many business and residential addresses as possible, though these are likely to be at different times from normal. We will ensure as much priority mail, including Special Delivery™ and Tracked™ items and as many parcels as possible are delivered to customers.

We will collect from Post Offices® on Friday 27th September, though this will be at different times from normal. We are very sorry that we cannot guarantee collections from business customers in the affected postcode areas on Friday. Customers may choose to take mail to their local Post Offices® before 15:00; alternatively, customers can drop their mail off at East Oxford Delivery Office. The Enquiry Office will remain open as normal, for customers to collect items for which we’ve left a 'Something for you card'.

[Red Robbo]

What were they balloted for "strike action or action short of strike action " ?