POSTAL workers in London have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in an attempt to protect jobs and services from arbitrary cuts.
Martin Walsh, CWU London spokesman, said: ‘We’re fighting against unacceptable attacks on jobs and services in Royal Mail at a time when the company is performing well.
‘Strike action is a last resort for our members who can ill afford to lose wages.
‘However, these cuts and the way management want to impose them are so serious that postal workers have voted nine to one for strike action.
‘We hope that Royal Mail will take notice of the strong feelings of their staff and enter into negotiations with the CWU to take a different approach to these cuts.
‘As the proposals stand, this has nothing whatsoever to do with modernisation, it is about the destruction of Postal Services to the public.
‘We want a national agreement which they previously committed to and have now walked away from.
‘In a 70 per cent turnout, postal workers in London voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action.
‘This affects postal workers across Greater London.
‘Decisions around timing for strike action will be taken shortly, but the CWU hope to avoid strike action through progress in talks with Royal Mail.
‘Royal Mail can resolve this dispute by honouring their commitment to negotiate a National Agreement on the future of Postal Services and the staff that provide them, and by stopping the bullying and intimidation of Postal Staff.’
Harrow and District CWU branch secretary Ian Murphy told News Line: ‘We are very pleased with the result.
‘I’m sure we will be called on to take action. I don’t think management will back down.’
Harrow and District CWU rep Richard Kassir added: ‘London are right to take a stand.
‘There’s no doubt that management are making an attack on pay and conditions. I’m glad members are standing solid.
‘There is likely to be more action. Other offices up and down the country are balloting.’
Commenting on the bid for a stake in Royal Mail by private equity group CVC Capital Partners, Kassir added: ‘Shame on any company that puts in a bid for what is a public service. I’m opposed to privatisation.
‘It’s disgraceful these companies are trying to muscle in. They only want the profitable bits.’
