Fears postal strike will spread in Wirral

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FEARS are growing that a strike affecting a postal sorting office in north Wirral could spread across the borough.

Wallasey postal workers began their unofficial strike on Monday and last night their union said a meeting with Royal Mail had been "heated".

The postal workers said they were unhappy with new working conditions being imposed on them without adequate consultation and had formed a picket outside the delivery office in Liscard.

Mark Walsh of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said although the union had urged the workers to return to their jobs the members had chosen to remain on strike.

Mr Walsh said: "We had the meeting with the members and unless Royal Mail change their stance they are not willing to return to work with the draconian conditions that have been put on them.

"To say the meeting was heated would be an understatement.

"We are trying to resolve the situation but there has been no compromise from Royal Mail."

He said another meeting had organised for today.

According to the union 82 people work at the office in Wallasey – one of 10 delivery offices in Wirral – and estimated that some 70 of those were involved in the industrial action.

It is believed that the undelivered mail is still at the main sorting office for the area in Chester, and according to Royal Mail the CH44 and CH45 postcodes so far have been affected by the strike.

But Mr Walsh said: "We do not want this to spread, but members are contacting us daily with concerns they have at other offices in the area.

"I fear other offices may become involved."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said they were disappointed that the workers’ unofficial action is continuing.

She said: “We apologise to customers for the disruption and urge the workers to return to work so normal service can be resumed.”