POSTAL WORKERS DELAY STRIKING

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 08 Dec 2007, 15:11

LINK

Postal workers have delayed strike action to enable further discussions to take place over the suspension of 12 colleagues.Around 100 members of the Communication And General Workers Union (CWU) in Burslem were balloted last month, and the majority of them said they were prepared to walk out.

Papers were sent out to members by the union because it believed Royal Mail was not doing enough to resolve a row involving 12 workers suspended over allegations of bullying.

Three of the workers have had their suspensions lifted, but the CWU wants an independent review of the whole case to be held.

Today, after meetings to discuss the details of the planned action, the union said it had decided to give Royal Mail time to try and resolve the issue before they carry out any strike.

CWU Midlands secretary Lee Barron said: "Meetings were held with members, and in order for us to do the responsible thing and give Royal Mail a chance to sort things out, we have decided not to take action yet.

"We want to give a window of opportunity for both sides to resolve the problems in Burslem, and we will review the situation in the middle of next week.

"If progress is not made it will be a case of giving notice of industrial action, but that is a last resort for us, we do not want to cause any disruption."

Royal Mail suspended the 12 workers at the Burslem delivery office in September.

Unofficial walkouts were held at the time, and the campaign was stepped up when Midlands representatives of the CWU said they would write to every branch in the country to set up a fighting fund to ensure any strike action by workers is sustainable.

Under employment contracts, workers who strike, whether on an official or unofficial basis, do not receive pay for the period they are away from work.

Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley has also been involved with the dispute, and previously told The Sentinel that she plans to contact Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier, and ask him to step in and settle the row.

The results of the ballot were announced on Monday.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We are naturally disappointed the ballot has resulted in a vote for industrial action, but it is encouraging the union is keen to talk rather than take strike action at our busiest time of year."

Do you support the actions of the CWU?

davidessex · Post by **davidessex** » 08 Dec 2007, 19:12

illegal or not, why don,t cwu encourage us all to take action now, to get this resolved............. sorry i,m getting carried away, cwu having a say is enough for them !

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 08 Dec 2007, 19:37

davidessex wrote:illegal or not, why don,t cwu encourage us all to take action now, to get this resolved............. sorry i,m getting carried away, cwu having a say is enough for them !

That would require a ballot which takes time.

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 08 Dec 2007, 19:38

I dont pay my subs only for them to be used in legal fees because CWU have broken the law on IA.