Scottish unoffical action

[larsson1971]

Mail strike worsens as 5000 walk out


Comment

by Iain Lundy

THOUSANDS of Glasgow postal workers walked out of delivery offices today in a dramatic escalation of industrial action.

Strike-hit Royal Mail was plunged into deeper chaos after 13 workers who had refused to cross a picket line were sent home and union officials claim up to 5000 colleagues walked out in support of them.

Around 1100 staff at the Glasgow Mail Centre in Springburn were already on official strike today and the wildcat action added to the disruption.

The Communications Workers Union claims a deal was offered to bosses which would have averted the unofficial action but it was rejected.

advertisementThe union said Royal Mail instead sent the men home and managers were deployed to deliver mail.

The CWU has called a month-long campaign of staggered strike action aimed at all areas of Royal Mail's operations as part of a dispute over pay and potential job cuts.

Today's escalation was sparked by the refusal of delivery drivers from Glasgow to cross a picket line at Edinburgh Airport last night.

A union spokesman said the response of Royal Mail bosses was to "abate" their pay and send them home.

He added: "An official of the branch approached the management and suggested they keep the staff working instead of sending them home. That was refused and the whole situation exploded."

Royal Mail said the workers who refused to cross the picket line were deemed to have taken "illegal and unofficial" industrial action.

Julie Morrison, the firm's head of external relations, said: "Unfortunately delivery staff and processing staff have decided to take unlawful industrial action and we are deeply disappointed they have decided to do so.

"This is having an impact on our ability to delivery mail in some parts of Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire.

Publication date 31/07/07

[Spartacus]

Cheers for that info,great user name by the way.

Hail Hail

[ulster postie]

TRUST THE JOCKS THATS THE OLD CELTIC BLOOD FOR YA BUT ITS A BAD SITUATION, RM WILL LOVE THIS, IF IT CANT BE STOPPED SHOULD WE ALL GIT INVOLVED AND REALY PUT IT UP THEM. ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

[postie28]

could spread very quickly this one . worth keeping an eye on.

[Spartacus]

From the BBC website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1245259.stm

Postal deliveries in the west of Scotland have been disrupted by an unofficial strike by Royal Mail workers.

Around 3,600 staff walked out in protest at disciplinary action being taken against a colleague, which they said was too lenient.

The Royal Mail has condemned the workers for the strike, which is not supported by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), and called on staff to return to work.

This wildcat action will hurt our customers and there is no doubt that they are putting their own jobs at risk

Royal Mail spokesman

A mass meeting of staff is due to take place in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Around 1,100 staff at the Glasgow Mail Centre were taking part in the action, along with 1,500 at 18 delivery offices in the city and 1,000 at 10 other delivery offices in the west of Scotland.

Only 15 delivery offices in Glasgow were working normally on Tuesday.

The staff are objecting to a disciplinary case involving a manager who made inappropriate remarks to a 16-year-old female colleague.

He received a warning which will stay on his record for two years and was moved to a different department.

Mail not delivered

But the striking workers believe he should have been more severely dealt with.

The action means around two million items of mail were not delivered in Glasgow on Tuesday.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "This wildcat action will hurt our customers and there is no doubt that they are putting their own jobs at risk.

"Local representatives at the mail centre are trying to convince staff to return to work but they are continuing to ignore their own union.

"The decision is an internal matter entirely consistent with the facts involved."





Kind of a different slant with the pervy manager.



Red Clydeside

[ulster postie]

SO WHERE DID THE CHAT OF DRIVERS NOT CROSSING A PICKET LINE COME FROM. THATS RM FOR YA IF IT HAD OF BEEN A POSTIE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SACKED . GO FOR IT SCOTTY

[IWW Fellow Worker]

Red Clydeside

http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/redclyde/

Marvellous people up there! Some of the earliest mutual improvement societies were to be found in Scotland. Ordinary crofters, miners, farm hands and weavers all educating themselves and setting up their own libraries and debating societies. A great working class tradition. Well done brothers and sisters!

[Spartacus]

Sh*t Sh*t Sh*t

Just noticed the date on that BBC piece. Tuesday, 27 March, 2001, 20:15 GMT 21:15 UK DOH!!!!!!!!!


Boy is my face red.

[ulster postie]

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sh*t Sh*t Sh*t

Just noticed the date on that BBC piece. Tuesday, 27 March, 2001, 20:15 GMT 21:15 UK DOH!!!!!!!!!


Boy is my face red.

But it does prove that there is 1 rule for posties and another rule for managers, so thanks for that anyway.

[hackneyjoe]

From the BBC website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1245259.stm

Postal deliveries in the west of Scotland have been disrupted by an unofficial strike by Royal Mail workers.

Around 3,600 staff walked out in protest at disciplinary action being taken against a colleague, which they said was too lenient.

The Royal Mail has condemned the workers for the strike, which is not supported by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), and called on staff to return to work.

This wildcat action will hurt our customers and there is no doubt that they are putting their own jobs at risk

Royal Mail spokesman

A mass meeting of staff is due to take place in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Around 1,100 staff at the Glasgow Mail Centre were taking part in the action, along with 1,500 at 18 delivery offices in the city and 1,000 at 10 other delivery offices in the west of Scotland.

Only 15 delivery offices in Glasgow were working normally on Tuesday.

The staff are objecting to a disciplinary case involving a manager who made inappropriate remarks to a 16-year-old female colleague.

He received a warning which will stay on his record for two years and was moved to a different department.

Mail not delivered

But the striking workers believe he should have been more severely dealt with.

The action means around two million items of mail were not delivered in Glasgow on Tuesday.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "This wildcat action will hurt our customers and there is no doubt that they are putting their own jobs at risk.

"Local representatives at the mail centre are trying to convince staff to return to work but they are continuing to ignore their own union.

"The decision is an internal matter entirely consistent with the facts involved."





Kind of a different slant with the pervy manager.



Red Clydeside

This is from 2001!! The strike is about drivers refuisng to cross picket lines at the airport. See www.socialistworker.co.uk

[L Tommo]

Something just dont look right???? Ohhhhhh yehhhhhhhhh!!!!!



LETS DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!!!!

[gdm09]

i think Motherwell walked out as well

[johnston65]

Straight from the horses mouth drivers were suspended for refusing to cross picket line at edinburgh airport so Mail Centre walked at midnight followed by deliveries. There is a meeting tomorrow morning to try to get us back to work.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

Straight from the horses mouth drivers were suspended for refusing to cross picket line at edinburgh airport so Mail Centre walked at midnight followed by deliveries. There is a meeting tomorrow morning to try to get us back to work.

All the best Fellow Worker.