MP wants York postal strike ballot delayed

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http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3878460. ... t_delayed/

By Mike Laycock »


A DAMAGING York postal strike in the run-up to Christmas could be averted, an MP revealed today.

Postal workers fighting a Royal Mail decision to move the sorting of second class mail from York to Leeds have threatened industrial action which would affect Christmas card and parcel deliveries and collections for hundreds of thousands of people across York and North Yorkshire.

But Selby MP John Grogan, who opposes the Royal Mail decision, said sources had told him that many ordinary postmen and women had been pressing for a delay in a looming strike ballot until after the festive period.

“They take great pride in the delivery of the Christmas post,” he said. “I hope there will be a delay and think there will be.”

A meeting of members of the Communication Workers’ Union recently agreed to have a ballot on industrial action.

Union officials are understood to be meeting this week to consider when the ballot should be held.

The union is convinced that the loss of second class mail sorting will be followed eventually by the transfer of first class mail and the closure of the York office with the loss of more than 350 jobs.

It claims that York is more cost efficient and offers a higher quality of service than Leeds.

Talks with managers aimed at averting the strike recently broke down without agreement.

Royal Mail has previously urged the union not to ballot for strike action, which it said could only be damaging both for the business and for its customers, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, its busiest time.

The company has insisted that the move of second class sorting, intended to improve operational efficiency, will not result in the loss of any York centre jobs and said there were “no plans at the moment” to transfer any further mail processing from York to Leeds.

A national report which could have a crucial bearing on the future of the sorting office is set to be published in the next few weeks.

As The Press has reported previously, the report by Richard Hooper, a former deputy chairman of the regulator Ofcom, is said to recommend that dozens of sorting offices nationwide should be axed with the loss of up to 20,000 jobs, and with sorting transferred to remaining large mail centres. It has been reported that the Hooper report will shortly be put to Business Secretary Peter Mandelson.

Mr Grogan said the Government should reject the privatisation of Royal Mail or the closure of sorting offices.

Dates reminder for Christmas mail

Royal Mail has given its deadlines for sending mail abroad if it is to arrive by Christmas Day.

The last posting dates for airmail items are: Friday, December 5 - Australia and New Zealand, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia and the Far East (except Japan); Wednesday, December 10 - USA, Canada, Japan and Eastern Europe; Friday, December 12 - Western Europe.

For domestic mail the deadlines are: Thursday, December 18 - Second Class; Saturday, December 20 – First Class; Tuesday, December 23 – special delivery.

For further information, visit royalmail.com, phone 08457 740740 or ask at any post office.

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http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3878460. ... t_delayed/


The company has insisted that the move of second class sorting, intended to improve operational efficiency, will not result in the loss of any York centre jobs and said there were “no plans at the moment” to transfer any further mail processing from York to Leeds.

"no plans at the moment" ???? says it all, everyone out!!!