Postal Strike in Bristol
ffwd by i-Contact video network | 15.01.2001 15:14
POST office managers were today delivering mail to thousands of addresses in Bristol as a strike by mail workers spread.
About 120 postal workers covering three key areas of the city have joined the unofficial walkout.
The strike started on Friday when 70 delivery staff based at the Easton Business Park stopped work in a row about changes to working practices, including overtime payments.
Communications Workers Union (CWU) official David Wilshire said talks had broken down at the weekend and that new negotiations were being held today.
The initial stoppage affected people living and working in the BS1 central Bristol postcode area. But, at the weekend, another 50 workers covering the BS2 and BS99 areas refused to cross the picket line.
The BS1 and BS2 areas cover the city centre and the BS99 code applies to some of the city’s largest organisations, such as the Bristol and West Bank, NatWest, the Evening Post, Avon Health Authority, Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
The stoppage has affected an estimated 20,000 addresses, with at least 500,000 items of mail held up.
The dispute hinges on a 45-minute period, which the workers used to receive as overtime for sorting mail on behalf of colleagues who were sick or on holiday.
Royal Mail has stopped paying them for that period, after telling them they are already receiving cash for this work and that it is not overtime.
Further talks were being held today between Royal Mail and officials from the Communications Workers Union (CWU) to try to break the deadlock.
Royal Mail spokesman Adrian Booth said managers were determined that customers would not be inconvenienced.
Mr Booth said they were prepared to deliver the mail themselves to all the areas affected after being drafted in to cover the BS1 area at the weekend.
CWU official Kevin Beazer said: “We have asked for negotiations in the past on this issue and they (Royal Mail) have refused.
“They want our people to return to work but are not prepared to discuss the issues that caused them to walk out in the first place.
“The onus is certainly on the employer here to get the situation sorted out.”
Royal Mail advised people not to go to the business park to collect their post.
It said mail was being sorted and delivered, although it would arrive later than normal.
About 120 postal workers covering three key areas of the city have joined the unofficial walkout.
The strike started on Friday when 70 delivery staff based at the Easton Business Park stopped work in a row about changes to working practices, including overtime payments.
Communications Workers Union (CWU) official David Wilshire said talks had broken down at the weekend and that new negotiations were being held today.
The initial stoppage affected people living and working in the BS1 central Bristol postcode area. But, at the weekend, another 50 workers covering the BS2 and BS99 areas refused to cross the picket line.
The BS1 and BS2 areas cover the city centre and the BS99 code applies to some of the city’s largest organisations, such as the Bristol and West Bank, NatWest, the Evening Post, Avon Health Authority, Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
The stoppage has affected an estimated 20,000 addresses, with at least 500,000 items of mail held up.
The dispute hinges on a 45-minute period, which the workers used to receive as overtime for sorting mail on behalf of colleagues who were sick or on holiday.
Royal Mail has stopped paying them for that period, after telling them they are already receiving cash for this work and that it is not overtime.
Further talks were being held today between Royal Mail and officials from the Communications Workers Union (CWU) to try to break the deadlock.
Royal Mail spokesman Adrian Booth said managers were determined that customers would not be inconvenienced.
Mr Booth said they were prepared to deliver the mail themselves to all the areas affected after being drafted in to cover the BS1 area at the weekend.
CWU official Kevin Beazer said: “We have asked for negotiations in the past on this issue and they (Royal Mail) have refused.
“They want our people to return to work but are not prepared to discuss the issues that caused them to walk out in the first place.
“The onus is certainly on the employer here to get the situation sorted out.”
Royal Mail advised people not to go to the business park to collect their post.
It said mail was being sorted and delivered, although it would arrive later than normal.
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More on the Postal Strike
15.01.2001 15:21
Around 70 workers at the office took action at 5.45am yesterday, refusing to deliver post ready to go to the BS1 postcode area, including Broadmead, the Centre and the surrounding business area.
Last night Royal Mail spokesman Adrian Booth said if the action was not settled managers would take on deliveries over the weekend and pull out all the stops on Monday to make sure post got through.
David Wilshire, Communication Workers Union area official, said he was not convinced a conclusion would be reached over the weekend.
The 70 staff at the office deliver around 80,000 items to about 6,000 addresses in the city, of which just over 3,000 are business addresses.
The dispute hinges on a decision by the Royal Mail to end the practice of paying overtime to workers sorting mail covering for colleagues who are off sick.
Mr Wilshire said: "We've approached management with a deal covering everything going on at the unit - the overtime was just the catalyst. There has been some progress but things are still at a very tender stage and we've had nothing we've felt we could go back to the workers with."
The action comes just weeks after sorting office workers planned strike action because of a dispute over Christmas overtime pay, but potential postal chaos was twice averted by last-minute deals.
Yesterday's action involved workers refusing to deliver post ready to go to an area including Broadmead, the Centre and the surrounding business area.
Staff at the Bristol 2 delivery office and indoor sorters from the BS99 unit have since walked out in support of their colleagues.
Communication Workers' Union area official David Wilshire claimed an estimated 20,000 addresses would be affected.
But Royal Mail spokesman Adrian Booth said talks between management and the unions would continue throughout the weekend.
He said: "Talks are going on over the weekend and we remain hopeful about finding a solution."
Mr Wilshire said: "We've approached management with a deal covering everything going on at the unit - the overtime was just the catalyst.
"There has been some progress but things are still at a very tender stage."
From the Bristol Evening post
Media Bias from Western Daily Press
16.01.2001 12:09
NB - Wheres the opinion of the striking workers???
____________________________________________________________
Western Daily Press 16/01/2001
By Jane Drake
Edition WP Late City
Page 22
Record Number 808134
TALKS between managers and striking Post Office workers in central Bristol remained in deadlock last night.
Royal Mail managers were even out delivering letters and parcels yesterday as businesses braced themselves to lose thousands of pounds because of late deliveries.
The row between 120 postal staff at Easton Business Park and Royal Mail bosses over an overtime payment meant many businesses in the city centre received little or no mail on Saturday and yesterday.
The dispute over the reinstatement of overtime for sorting mail on behalf of colleagues who were sick or on holiday began on Friday. Talks broke down over the weekend.
The Royal Mail said they were making contingency plans to draft in more managers to take on the role of delivery workers.
Adrian Booth, Royal Mail spokesman, said managers from across Bristol had volunteered to take on delivery jobs for as long as necessary.He said: "Nobody can claim that regular postman can be replaced overnight but our customers need this mail and we are doing everything we can to deliver."
Eight thousand customers, including 3,000 businesses, were beginning to feel the impact as the dispute continued.
Companies affected included Bristol and West in Temple Quay, which received no post on Saturday and only one of its usual 14 sacks on Monday morning.
Nat West Insurance in Old Broad Street said it had got a much smaller delivery than usual on Monday morning and would be worried about the impact on customers if the strike was not resolved quickly.
A Bristol Confederation of British Industry spokesman said it was too early to guess at the financial costs resulting from the dispute but it is expected to run into thousands if the strike continues.
Nigel Hutchins, head of policy at Bristol Chamber of Commerce, said a continuing strike would have serious consequences to businesses and small businesses in particular in terms of lost orders, cashflow and bills turning up late.
He said: "They can stand it for a few days but if it spreads it will be very awkward for the business community."
Janine Erskine, assistant manager of Bristol Children's Hospital, said that if necessary the hospital might have to start relying on other means such as email to receive referrals and queries from other hospitals.
Mike Newport, area officer for the Communication Workers' Union, claimed Royal Mail bosses had refused to negotiate on the overtime issue. It had caused low morale among the membership.
He said: "The membership will stay out as long as necessary and feel that they are being attacked at every opportunity and our earnings potential is being diminished by our employers."
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