Postal workers deliver wildcat strikes to Royal Mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A wave of wildcat walkouts hit four Royal Mail offices over the past week with strikes in Canterbury, Scarborough, east London and Carmarthen.

Around 70 people walked out of Canterbury’s Military Road sorting office on Thursday of last week after six workers were reportedly suspended.

Strikers said the six had been suspended after bosses piled on extra work on top of their normal deliveries without giving them enough time to do it.

One worker said they were under constant pressure from managers. “The post workers have to complete their deliveries or they will be suspended,” he said.

“It compromises their safety because they have to get it done. Anything could happen to them if they’re rushing. People went in today with legitimate answers and the bosses still suspended them.”

Reneged

Another walkout on Friday morning saw workers at Scarborough’s sorting office take action after senior management reneged on new working hours.

Agreements would have seen a permanent increase in hours for some workers and full time for others.

But workers said that when the contracts arrived they were not permanent as expected.

Instead the contracts were a trial that will run for a few weeks while management decide whether the arrangements work for them.

Eddie Milne said he had walked out with CWU union members even though he is currently not in the union.

He told Socialist Worker, “They went back on their word. We walked out because we’re always having the piss taken out of us.”

CWU rep Mark Hornby didn’t want to comment as he believed the dispute was close to being resolved.

The union agreed the original terms on a temporary basis because too many people lacked the confidence to stay out and push for permanent contracts.

But another postal worker said they would come out again in a few weeks if the original agreement is not honoured.

Postal workers also walked out of east London’s Whitechapel delivery office. Bosses had allegedly docked the pay of a young woman who had to take sick leave instead of annual leave to look after her child.

And workers walked out briefly in Carmarthen, West Wales, after bosses tried to force through “unagreed cuts”.

The walkouts point to a mood to take action against bosses’ attacks.

Royal Mail is preparing a huge attack on pay and conditions—and the CWU said earlier this year it could ballot for strikes. Last week’s walkouts show the type of action that can stop the bosses.

[tommyrep]

So get used to this happening throughout the country ! Wildcat strikes with no leadership or guidance, that eventually fail.
RM will always push to the limit now with enforcing - or trying if unchallenged- added work at their own whim.
No need for discussion with our union, they now have a dictatorial vision! If you are not "happy" ?? Well, "look at yodels" terms etc!
It's been on the cards and they are baying for confrontation to further renage on the terms of the 5 year deal which they have already began to dismantle. E.g. Pensions, no two tier workforce, etc.
They are a horrible, I mean really are a truly HORRIBLE bunch of bully's. B ...ards!
Is it too late to fight ? Do the members have the guts for a fight?
I had hoped for better or more heart/belief from ALL our colleagues. Short term loss of money with all out action is the only answer. RM never intend to honour short term agreements, its only a ploy to get tomorrow's mail out - do they know they have already won this battle? Lambs to the slaughter, yeh, I am a prophet of doom!

[bmccoll]

Strikes during the summer just won't work, hit them where it hits their profits, I say hold out til Christmas.

[cantonkid1955]

No one wants to delay mail to their customers,however,RM has ALWAYS pushed people to the limit and its criminal what they are doing to the staff
Changing hours on a whim ,adding extra work to already over worked postmen,,now is the time to fight back but walking out is not the answer,,
Workers MUST stop going into work early,and doing unpaid work,,only do what you are paid to do and take your breaks,finish at your official finish time,,don't give the bullying management any excuse to discipline you,but we must all stick together,,a chain is only as strong as its weakest link,,and its about time the management bully's learnt that if they pick on one,,they pick on us all,