catch
10th October 2007, 18:47
Wildcat postal strikes have sprung up around the UK at the end of an official 48-hour Royal Mail walkout.
130,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members returned to work today after the latest four day strikes, but the introduction of later starts by executive action has led to mass walkouts in Glasgow, Lancaster, Liverpool, and London, with more offices to follow.
The wildcat started at district offices throughout Liverpool and soon spread to the main sorting office at Copperas Hill, while workers at branches in east and south London also walked out.
Workers at the Victoria Road office in Glasgow walked out earlier, but are now back at work. Hundreds of workers have been on strike today against the changes, brought in without any consultation, and which also prevent workers from leaving work after completing their deliveries, known as "job and finish".
One postal worker in London commented that these unofficial strikes could lead to all-out action at a national level, given the unpopularity of the late start times and the current mood amongst postal workers who are fighting many other measures as well.
We will update with more news as information comes in.
s wildcats erupt across the UK, the royalmailchat.co.uk forum has obtained a copy of Royal Mail's battle plans for the current negotiations with the CWU.
The document, a powerpoint presentation sent to general managers shortly after further strikes were announced in September, outlines Royal Mail's endgames for the talks. It includes a whole range of measures which postal workers said today would destroy the postal service if brought in.
Highlights include:
- No more negotiations with the CWU on every subject at every level
- No more payments for change
- Flexibilised hours and teamworking
- Shift changes at a moment's notice and annualised hours
- Later start times - the cause of today's unofficial action, part of "Network 2007"
- Changes to the pension scheme (the end of final salary pensions)
http://libcom.org/tags/royal-mail
Also Sky news is running a poll - it went from 25% to 40% in favour already but could still use some help.
http://news.sky.com - grey box bottom left.
130,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members returned to work today after the latest four day strikes, but the introduction of later starts by executive action has led to mass walkouts in Glasgow, Lancaster, Liverpool, and London, with more offices to follow.
The wildcat started at district offices throughout Liverpool and soon spread to the main sorting office at Copperas Hill, while workers at branches in east and south London also walked out.
Workers at the Victoria Road office in Glasgow walked out earlier, but are now back at work. Hundreds of workers have been on strike today against the changes, brought in without any consultation, and which also prevent workers from leaving work after completing their deliveries, known as "job and finish".
One postal worker in London commented that these unofficial strikes could lead to all-out action at a national level, given the unpopularity of the late start times and the current mood amongst postal workers who are fighting many other measures as well.
We will update with more news as information comes in.
s wildcats erupt across the UK, the royalmailchat.co.uk forum has obtained a copy of Royal Mail's battle plans for the current negotiations with the CWU.
The document, a powerpoint presentation sent to general managers shortly after further strikes were announced in September, outlines Royal Mail's endgames for the talks. It includes a whole range of measures which postal workers said today would destroy the postal service if brought in.
Highlights include:
- No more negotiations with the CWU on every subject at every level
- No more payments for change
- Flexibilised hours and teamworking
- Shift changes at a moment's notice and annualised hours
- Later start times - the cause of today's unofficial action, part of "Network 2007"
- Changes to the pension scheme (the end of final salary pensions)
http://libcom.org/tags/royal-mail
Also Sky news is running a poll - it went from 25% to 40% in favour already but could still use some help.
http://news.sky.com - grey box bottom left.