Stanmore sorting office stage walkout:Updated 3-4/10

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Homes and businesses will go without post as Royal Mail staff at Stanmore sorting office stage walkout

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/10694 ... e_walkout/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thousands of homes and businesses could be left without post as staff at Stanmore’s Royal Mail sorting office stage a walkout for the first time in almost 30 years.

Up to 50 workers at the Parr Road distribution centre will go on strike for 24 hours tomorrow (Wednesday) amid accusations of harassment and bullying by senior managers and unfair workloads.

Further strike action has already been predicted for next week, with the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) claiming there are currently no talks.


The strike is the first industrial action, independent of national walkouts, at the Stanmore branch since the 1980s.

The CWU says 98 per cent of its members voted in favour of a strike over the long-running feud.

Ian Murphy, Harrow and District branch representative for the CWU, claims that negotiating with management at the Stanmore office has been “like walking through treacle”.

He said: “I find myself unable to negotiate with them. I have never experienced a workplace environment like this in my 33 year career – it is very tense.

“They have failed to properly deal with allegations of harassment dating back to last year and we are making no progress with them.

“This is absolutely a last resort but further strikes are very likely. There are no talks going on at all – it seems they’re more worried about trying to get some cover than finding a resolution.”

Workers are due to stage a picket outside the Honeypot Business Centre, off Honeypot Lane, tomorrow, in an attempt to stop deliveries arriving at the sorting office.

Senior managers are understood to be attempting to arrange last minute cover from Bedfordshire but postal services are expected to be severely affected.

One member of staff, who did not wish to be named, told the Harrow Times the union had voted to strike on the sorting office’s busiest day in order to cause the maximum disruption.

He said: “We’re taking a stand. Harassment and bullying is not something we should have to put up with. We have tried talking to the mangers but we have been ignored.”

The sorting depot distributes letters and parcels to approximately 12,500 homes and businesses across Stanmore.

Royal Mail representative Valerie Antoine said: “It is disappointing that our colleagues based at the Stanmore delivery office have decided to take industrial action tomorrow and we will do everything we can to minimise the disruption to our customers.

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

“We urge the CWU not to call our people out on strike action, which can only hurt our customers and damage our business and our drive to build a strong and sustainable future for Royal Mail.”

[demon]

we just been told they are going to try and make us take our other 20 min break in the office after our duty

[TrueBlueTerrier]

we just been told they are going to try and make us take our other 20 min break in the office after our duty

they can't

It's in the Way Forward Agreement which you can download at http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 41#p557598

Here's the relevant bit from page 24 of the agreement:

Breaks at the beginning or end of attendance

Where an attendance is provided with more than one break, the second break may be scheduled at the beginning or end, in which case attendance is not required solely for booking on or off. A single break should not be scheduled at the beginning or end of the attendance.

and the government say so as well https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work/rul ... ing-breaks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the worker is allowed to spend it away from their desk or workstation (ie away from where they actually work)

[Lounge Lizard]

we just been told they are going to try and make us take our other 20 min break in the office after our duty

"Stanmore’s Royal Mail sorting office stage a walkout for the first time in almost 30 years." - is that right ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Further strikes predicted after Communication Workers' Union members at Stanmore's Royal Mail sorting office stage walkout

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

Further strikes are expected at Stanmore’s Royal Mail sorting office next week after the first round of industrial action took place today.

Dozens of staff staged a walk out this morning in a row over working conditions at the Parr Road depot, off Honeypot Lane.

Up to 50 members of the Communication Workers’ Union held a picket line amid accusations of unfair workloads and bullying and harassment from senior managers.

Workers attempted to stop delivery trucks from entering the premises on what is the office’s busiest day of the week.


Thousands of homes and businesses risk being affected by the inevitable postal delays, though Royal Mail is yet to confirm the extent of the backlog.

The postal firm admitted it was forced to bring in volunteers as well as managers from as far away as Bedfordshire to take on the deliveries.

But, with talks yet to take place between the CWU and management at the depot, further strike action is already being proposed for next Friday and Saturday.

Ian Murphy, Harrow and District branch representative for the CWU, said: “The mood on the picket line has been very upbeat but I doubt they will listen to us based on one period of strike action.

“I’m hopeful that a couple more days of strikes will bring them to the table. They have been hauling managers in on their days off and away from their normal working areas – it is unsustainable.”

Almost 98 per cent of union members voted in favour of industrial action - the first strike at the depot independent of national walkouts since the 1980s.

Demonstrators who manned the picket line between 5am and midday were supported by Labour councillor Navin Shah, who attended this morning.

One member of Royal Mail staff, who did not want to be named, said: “We made our presence felt and we have made our point.

“Everyone is pleased to be standing on the picket line. If we don’t, the bullying and harassment will continue. Everyone realises we will be losing money by taking this action but we will continue until we are listened to.”

Royal Mail representative Valerie Antoine said cover staff had attempted to deliver as many special delivery and tracked items as possible, and that business, post box and post office collections had largely run as normal.

She said: “Royal Mail is disappointed that members of the Communications Workers’ Union have decided to take industrial action.

“We urge the CWU not to call our people out on strike action, which can only hurt our customers and damage our business and our drive to build a strong and sustainable future for Royal Mail.”

[TrueBlueTerrier]

we just been told they are going to try and make us take our other 20 min break in the office after our duty

"Stanmore’s Royal Mail sorting office stage a walkout for the first time in almost 30 years." - is that right ?

No. The new article (above) clarifies it

the first strike at the depot independent of national walkouts since the 1980s.

[Shambles]

N.W LONDON Posties

[POSTMAN]

Planned industrial action : Stanmore Delivery Office (HA7)

Royal Mail is disappointed that members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) have voted in favour of further industrial action at Stanmore Delivery Office on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October. Should the action take place, we have robust plans in place to deliver to as many customers as possible and ensure that all priority mail - including Special Delivery™ and Tracked™ items - and as many parcels as possible are delivered.Collections in the area from postboxes, Post Office® branches as well as business collection customers are expected to be made and we will endeavour to do this at the usual times where possible.

The Enquiry Office at Stanmore will remain open as normal, for customers to collect items for which we have left a 'Something for you' card.

We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused to customers should this action take place

[Pinky 1]

Planned industrial action : Stanmore Delivery Office (HA7)

Royal Mail is disappointed that members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) have voted in favour of further industrial action at Stanmore Delivery Office on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October. Should the action take place, we have robust plans in place to deliver to as many customers as possible and ensure that all priority mail - including Special Delivery™ and Tracked™ items - and as many parcels as possible are delivered.Collections in the area from postboxes, Post Office® branches as well as business collection customers are expected to be made and we will endeavour to do this at the usual times where possible.

The Enquiry Office at Stanmore will remain open as normal, for customers to collect items for which we have left a 'Something for you' card.

We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused to customers should this action take place

[POSTMAN]

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

Staff at Stanmore's Royal Mail sorting office to strike again

Workers at a Royal Mail sorting office are set to strike again despite talks with management taking place earlier this week.

Staff at Stanmore’s Royal Mail sorting office will take industrial action tomorrow (Friday) and on Saturday over accusations of unfair workloads, bullying and harassment from senior managers.

Last week up to 50 members of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) held a picket line outside Parr Road depot, off Honeypot Lane.

Talks between the Union and Royal Mail management took place earlier this week and it was hoped action could have been avoided.


However no deal was reached and action will now go ahead.

Thousands of homes and businesses were affected by postal delays during the strike last week and it is expected the same disruption will be repeated.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail is disappointed that members of the Communication Workers Union have voted in favour of further industrial action at Stanmore Delivery Office on Friday October 4 and Saturday October 5.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused to customers should this action take place."

The spokesman added that should the action go ahead Royal Mail has “robust plans" in place to deliver to as many customers as possible.


Last week’s strike was the first time the depot had taken industrial action, independent of national walkouts, since the 1980s.

[NWpostie]

What did they expect ? if you push somebody far enough they will snap back, I will have to admit it must have been a nice relief to to finally strike and make the managers do some work for a change, keep it and they will no longer keep up with their paperwork and do the deliveries at the same time, just to turn the screws a bit more by doing the job properly and cull, that will rack it up

[music4essex]

Good luck to all the posties who have supported the action , the strikes seem to be coming fast and furious even before the official one ,

I had a row this morning on unfair workloads

Essex mum

[Burge]

Well done lads and lasses for taking a stand on B&H.

[Shambles]

Well done lads and lasses for taking a stand on B&H.

I will most definitely 2nd that to the Norf Lundun Massive