Eastwood - Post strike hits service

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Postal staff in Eastwood staged a 24-hour strike for the second time in three weeks on Monday in a row over work shifts.
More than 30 workers at the sorting office on Meadowbank Way have had their walking delivery times increased from three-and-a-half to four hours, and many have been moved to cover bigger rural areas.

The workers took to the picket line angry that they were given more mail with only half-an-hour extra to get the work done, but that due to budget cuts, they were not allowed over-time, which they claim will cause a back-log of mail in the long run.

Delivery of letters and parcels in Eastwood and the surrounding area were delayed by at least a day this week as the postal staff tried to recover from the industrial action and deliver double on Tuesday.

But Royal Mail bosses have vowed not to back down to the union and a spokesperson said: "The union's determination to damage services and undermine the future health of the business and the universal service is increasing. Royal Mail is getting on with modernisation in an entirely fair and reasonable way which is completely in line with our existing agreement with the union on flexible working practices."

Postman Andy Green, who is the Eastwood representative for the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) which represents Royal Mail staff, said on Monday: "We don't like doing it but when you're pushed into a corner there's nowhere else to go.

"Staff in Eastwood are still really unhappy, some were on the picket line for 3.30am this morning. Royal Mail has made £320million over the last year, managers have had bonuses and we have had nothing but extra work."

Steve Blower, the county's delivery representative for the union, said the changes were affecting service quality across the area.

"We just don't have enough time to deliver the mail. We do the best job we can with the hours that we are given, but if we are not given enough hours it's a problem," he said.

"We can only get it done if we come in early but they won't let us. It's a vicious circle and it's demoralising for people coming to work.

"We need to force extra pressure on Royal Mail prior to the national strike. Royal Mail are peddling the issue as modernisation, but it's not modernising when you are losing staff."

A national ballott for strike action will close on October 8 and a national strike is planned for October 15. Eastwood staff do not plan to strike again until then.