Thetford union representative thanks public for support amid postal strikes

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https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/thetford/ ... s-9289684/

A Thetford union representative for postal workers who have finished two days of strike action at the town centre's office today has thanked the public for their support and understanding.

Postmen and women have been picketing as part of a national 48-hour strike outside the rear of the Market Place office in response to planned services changes.

The latest work stoppage was called by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) whose negotiations with Royal Mail failed earlier this year.


Stephen Belham, the town's postal workers' union representative, said: "This dispute started back in the summer when pay negotiations were requested by the CWU, the cost of living crisis was brewing and the union wanted a reasonable settlement to help members, some of which have had to use foodbanks to survive.


"But Royal Mail did not negotiate, instead imposing a two per cent pay rise, and said to members they could have more if they accepted drastic changes to their terms and conditions."

Stephen said the conditions included working time changes which would see later starts for workers, Sunday working and a reduction in sick pay - which prompted a ballot for strike action.


Royal Mail has announced it intends to cut up to 10,000 roles by next August – which the CWU accuses the firm of moving towards an 'owner-driver' model.

Stephen said: "Royal Mail have made their position clear, they want to take hours out of the post offices based on a forecast of traffic falling off a cliff next year.

"In Thetford, they want to take out 313 hours which basically is about 10 jobs and we can't deliver the mail now as we have not got enough staff so this will make the job untenable."

The postman of 20 years said he felt if the company was moving to an owner driver structure this would also take away some of the good service he and his colleagues provide.

Stephen said: "If you look at other delivery companies who do that, their service is atrocious. We feel that Royal Mail don't want us delivering letters any more, just parcels, and they don't want us to interact with the public.

"But having been in this job for 20 years and doing rural rounds, to some of our customers we are the only people they see on a daily basis and Royal Mail are trying to stop that interaction, that to me is a massive shame and just wrong."

On some of the public's reaction, in thinking this was all about money, Stephen said he wanted to explain it was more than that.

He said: "We are not just striking for pay, pay is just a small part of it, this is about our terms and conditions which at the moment are really good and which we want to preserve - I wish all of the public could see and understand that.

"I have seen the news and all they keep talking about is that we are ruining Christmas, but this started for us in the summer and this company is the one the public should be going to and ask them why they are ruining Christmas because if they actually listened to what we wanted and got around the table and negotiated with us then we could sort this out.

"These are good hard working people who have come out here and can't afford to do so, but they are angry at this company who are trying to destroy its future."


The next strike action is set for December 23 and 24 and Stephen said he hopes this dispute can be worked out.

Finally, he wanted to thank his fellow colleagues and people who have shown their support over the last two days.

He said: "To the public I can only apologise, but if we give in now, if we don't stand up against this company and what they are doing by making millions and millions of pounds of profit and giving it to their shareholders instead of those that are out in all weathers every week and make our work worse, then we have not got a future.

"We can't afford to be out here, but we are because we want the service the public wants and if we don't do this the public will not get that service from now on.

"We have had great support and I would like to thank them and I want them to understand this is not about being greedy. I have a young family and if I do what they want us to do I will not even be able to pick up my five-year-old at the end of the school day because I could be working until 8pm at night and I can't do that."