Postal workers walkout over staffing dispute at Plymouth del

[t3mcIUQWE2]

Postal workers walkout over staffing dispute at Plymouth delivery offices

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POSTAL delivery workers walked out yesterday over a staffing dispute - and may not return today either.

Union representatives said about 200 Royal Mail workers went on strike yesterday morning at the delivery offices in West Park and Plymstock (North Central) over the hiring of agency staff.

Ali St Clair, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) representative in West Park, said staff arrived on Monday to find six agency recruited workers had been taken on - a move that was against nationally set protocols, he said.

Part-time staff, some of whom had been in their roles for nearly 10 years, have been denied the chance to take on more hours, Mr St Clair added, with postal bosses choosing instead to hire cheaper agency alternatives.

"The Royal Mail has got no respect for its staff, it is as simple as that," he said.

"We have people with young families trying to get on the property ladder and they can't do it on 22-hour a week contracts.

"We have no animosity towards the agency staff - it is not their fault they are getting paid less. Our animosity is with Royal Mail and the approach they have towards their own staff. With 200 people on strike, that would suggest something is wrong. "

Royal Mail apologised for the disruption, with those living in the PL2, PL3, PL5 and PL6 areas of the city affected by the industrial action.

Bosses vowed to negotiate through the night with CWU officials but Mr St Clair said staff, as things stood, would be on strike on Tuesday as well.

Ralph Ferrett, secretary of the Plymouth and East Cornwall CWU branch, confirmed it was an "unofficial" walkout and said he hoped it would come to a quick resolution.

"Agency staff had been brought in and that hadn't been agreed under the normal national agreement," he added.

"There has been a long standing situation, especially in the West Park office, over the level of resource. Members feel that the number of full and part time staff are insufficient and that they need an increase in the amount of hours to do the work."

He added: "We are hopeful a settlement will be promoted quickly and will be talking to Royal Mail and throughout the night and on Tuesday morning if need be so a satisfactory resolution can be reached."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We are disappointed at the unballoted action which took place on Monday morning at Plymouth North and West Park delivery offices, which deliver to the PL2, PL3, PL5 and PL6 postcode areas.

"We apologise to customers for the disruption to their mail services and we are doing all we can to minimise this disruption.

"Royal Mail is fully committed to the process of trying to resolve concerns of postal workers based in Plymouth by following the national jointly agreed framework with the CWU," he added.

[tommyrep]

At last ! Postmen - MEN - with balls. Wonder how long our union will take to realise enough is enough with an intransigent bullying Royal Mail displaying a total disregard to supposed agreements. They continually show contempt towards delivery staff and we need support quickly, the slippery slope is getting even more inclined. It is relentless RM treatment that has gone unchallenged by our hierarchy too long. Are they aware of how low morale has become ? . Man up or if the union does not support delivery staff, we are really finished as a workforce. Or are we expected to roll over and just accept the current treatment dished out by RM. its scandalous!

[UNION JACK]

At last ! Postmen - MEN - with balls. Wonder how long our union will take to realise enough is enough with an intransigent bullying Royal Mail displaying a total disregard to supposed agreements. They continually show contempt towards delivery staff and we need support quickly, the slippery slope is getting even more inclined. It is relentless RM treatment that has gone unchallenged by our hierarchy too long. Are they aware of how low morale has become ? . Man up or if the union does not support delivery staff, we are really finished as a workforce. Or are we expected to roll over and just accept the current treatment dished out by RM. its scandalous!

[Judgee]

Good for them!


But are agency staff cheaper when you add in the staffing agency costs?

[mw7485]

Good for them!


But are agency staff cheaper when you add in the staffing agency costs?

Yes, because you can turn them off and on (??!!) at will. So, for the short term they will almost certainly be cheaper.

[zzzidane]

Well done 2 all concerned! This could b the single best post/topic i have seen on this forum. If only my office & plenty others had the balls to do this. Its about time Royal Mail sorted out these unfair 22/24/25 p/t contracts out & that agreements were kept to. Excellent stuff lads & lasses!!!!