Postal Strike 'Inevitable' Say Union Leaders

[TrueBlueTerrier]

12:11pm Wednesday 14th October 2009

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CREWE postal workers say that morale at the Weston Road sorting office is at rock bottom and that strike action was ‘inevitable’.

The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) announced this week that members had voted in favour of a national strike in the bitter row over Royal Mail's modernisation plans.

Postal workers in Crewe have been locked in a dispute with the company since May last year, when bosses announced plans to close the Crewe site, replacing it with a new depot in Warrington.

Royal Mail wants to move 460 positions after deciding that the Crewe site is unviable.

Workers have insisted that the transfer of jobs is unacceptable as they cannot afford transport costs.

CWU representatives put in for a ballot for industrial action earlier this year, but have now put that on hold in light of the national vote.

South Cheshire branch secretary Steve Wright said: "It was inevitable this was going to happen, because postmen and women are completely fed up.

"The proposals in Crewe are part of Royal Mail's so-called modernisation plans, which haven't worked elsewhere.

"I just hope that Royal Mail will actually take heed of the workforce and get round the table to stop the strike happening; we want to get Royal Mail working as it should."

In response to the overwhelming yes vote by postal workers for industrial action, union leaders in the North West have called on Royal Mail to cease ‘imposing unworkable working practices on a demoralised workforce’.

Carl Webb, CWU North West regional secretary, added: “Royal Mail is always telling us that they listen to their employees; well let’s hope that they mean what they say and immediately begin meaningful negotiations and begin treating all their staff with dignity and respect.

“Awarding a pay freeze to postmen and women when the company made a significant profit and then paying out massive bonuses to all management and board members was a slap in the face to all postal workers.

“Modernisation should result in improved and new services for our customers not office closures, later deliveries, fewer collections.

“Modernisation should result in a staff being rewarded for their endeavours, not pay freezes, mass redundancies, and the casualisation of the industry.”

[Cut Off King]

“Awarding a pay freeze to postmen and women when the company made a significant profit and then paying out massive bonuses to all management and board members was a slap in the face to all postal workers.

“Modernisation should result in improved and new services for our customers not office closures, later deliveries, fewer collections.

“Modernisation should result in a staff being rewarded for their endeavours, not pay freezes, mass redundancies, and the casualisation of the industry.”

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