Talks resume between unions and the Royal Mail
Talks aimed at preventing a nationwide postal strike are set to resume this morning.
Yesterday wildcat strikes chiefly about pay and conditions spread outside of London to other parts of the country.
The strikes began when workers in West Ealing, Acton and Kensington took action after a union representative was suspended
And colleagues at Greenford, west London, walked out after Royal Mail tried to move delayed post to other offices.
On Wednesday, strike action spread to Essex and Oxford and further afield to Scotland’s main postal distribution centre.
On Tuesday, about 20,000 postal staff refused to sort letters and packages across London and South East England.
The Communication Workers Union CWU said management provocation had precipitated the action.
The CWU blamed ‘anarchist managers’ but Royal Mail said militants had encouraged the walkout.
Postal workers had previously voted against a national strike for a £300 a week minimum but backed industrial action over £4,000 a year London weighting allowances.
Dave Ward, CWU deputy general-secretary, said managers were “attacking, humiliating and belittling” workers following official strikes.
Postwatch, the consumer industry watchdog, said mail services in London had been “severely disrupted” for the past 11 days.
Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier said the timing of the unofficial strikes did not appear coincidental.
“What we’re seeing is a concerted campaign, orchestrated by union activists, to try to force Royal Mail to increase its London weighting payment over and above the existing offer. This is unofficial and unlawful.”
Talks at the conciliation service Acas between the CWU and Royal Mail were adjourned on Wednesday evening without agreement.
