UNION SETS UP FIGHTING FUND FOR POSTAL STRIKES

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Link to Story

CHRISTINA SAVVAS

09:40 - 08 November 2007

Union members across the country are being asked to give financial backing to a campaign to strike by postal workers in Burslem.

Midlands representatives of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) are writing to branches across England to set up a fighting fund to ensure any strike action by workers at the Burslem delivery office is sustainable.

About 100 workers at the depot are being balloted on industrial action over the suspension of 12 colleagues.

Union officials want an independent review following the suspensions in September over allegations of bullying and harassment. Workers staged unofficial action at the time in support of their colleagues.

The 12 employees remain off work although Royal Mail says three have been told they can return to their jobs.

Lee Barron, Midlands secretary of the CWU, said: "A letter from me and Andy Plant, branch secretary, is being sent to every CWU branch in the country setting up a fighting fund to ensure any action taken is sustainable. In addition, if we need to, we will be extending the ballot across Stoke and the Midlands and at national level."

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.

Mr Barron said: "Ballot papers are being sent out to members. Once we have the results we have to give the employer seven days' notice."

Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley, pictured, said she has been closely involved with the dispute and plans to contact Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier.

She said: "I do feel that as a result of large-scale suspensions of Royal Mail workers there seems to be a compete loss of trust and confidence in the process Royal Mail is using.

"The union has proposed that there is a review of that process by Royal Mail and by the union at a national level to ensure everything is conducted fairly and I am very concerned indeed that this is being turned down by Royal Mail, and that has now led to a ballot proposal for strike action. If there is a reasonable way forward, which I believe the CWU is suggesting, that should be taken up."

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "The investigations following the precautionary suspension on full pay of a number of Royal Mail Burslem employees is progressing in accordance with the process agreed with the CWU. We have received no formal notification of a ballot from the union. However, the threat of further disruption to the service we provide our customers benefits no-one, especially when procedures agreed with the union are being followed." [/url]

[postie28]

must have missed something here. when the hell did royal fail start following agreed procedures ?