Communication Workers Union (CWU) leaders were in talks again with Royal Mail bosses yesterday while thousands of postal workers were out on a second day of management provoked unofficial strikes.
‘700 to 800 are out on unofficial strike here, while many others are working to rule,’ Liverpool CWU branch secretary Mark Walsh told News Line.
He said: ‘We’ve met with management again this afternoon, informally, but they are sticking to the national position where they just imposed a uniform start time.
‘The membership are not happy with that. Members have shown their resolve, having been six days without pay.’
Over 750 post workers were on strike at Bromley-by-Bow Mail Centre and the E16 Delivery Office in east London, over imposed start times. As well offices in E1, E3 and E14 were out.
E16 CWU delivery rep Mark Saxon said yesterday morning: ‘All management want to talk about is punishment orders.
‘All three shifts at the Mail Centre are out with us, and the transport side as well.
‘The feeling is strong. People are angry at management dictation.’
He added: ‘The rest of London and the rest of the country should come out in full support and fight these bullies.
‘Our union should be setting up a complete public sector strike – nurses, firemen, railways – everyone. This government is out to privatise and cut jobs and wages.’
CWU member, E16 postman Keith Lynch added: ‘We are not accepting the arbitrary way they are imposing their executive decisions.
‘The union should bring everybody out in our support and get the whole working class out.’
Mail Centre postman, CWU member Dean Edbrook said: ‘I’m here to support my delivery colleagues. The way they have been treated is disgusting.’
He added: ‘Brown’s attitude is unacceptable. So we have to use our strength and unity to achieve our goals.
‘That means all postmen and women striking together and fighting. Together we will win.’
At Poplar’s E14 Delivery Office, CWU delivery rep Mick Rowell told News Line: ‘We’re still strong. After going back from the official strike, we had imposed upon us duty time changes by executive action.
‘Our members are angered and determined not to let Royal Mail change our times without consultation.’
He added: ‘After what Gordon Brown said – “get back to work and accept the national deal” – he wants to spend a day in our shoes. People feel insulted.
‘We need all out strike action now, nationally, that’s the only way you are going to take these issues forward.
‘It’s time the public sector unions took strike action against a Labour government that are not for the working classes any more.’
At the giant Nine Elms Mail Centre, Vauxhall, CWU Early Distribution rep Gordon Morford said: ‘The whole of SW1 to SW20 are out, except for SW2, SW3 and SW9.
‘We came out at the Mail Centre yesterday at 3.35pm because managers were moving work in artics to North London arbitrarily.’
He added: ‘We might have to bring the whole union out.’
SW London CWU Area Delivery rep Nick Carter said: ‘Members are angry. They’ve had enough of bullying and intimidation and will no longer stand back and watch their union being derecognised.’
