Posties return to work after strike
Postal workers are delivering again today after a three-day wildcat strike in the Lincoln depot caused chaos to mail services in the county.
The strikes began when staff arrived at work on Monday morning to be told about changes to their job descriptions and working practices.
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The unofficial walkout was sparked when two workers were suspended after raising questions over health and safety and lack of training for a new "van-sharing" plan.
They say they also have underlying concerns about management practices in the depot.
Royal Mail confirmed the action was over in a statement yesterday.
"Delivery staff at Lincoln Delivery Office who were taking unofficial, unlawful industrial action have indicated they intend to return to work on Thursday morning," said spokesman Wendy Martin.
"Collections were taking place as normal yesterday afternoon."
On Wednesday Royal Mail shipped in 130 managers from the all over the region in an attempt to pick up the workload abandoned during the action.
The Communications Workers Union warned that the situation was not fully resolved as the grievances raised still need to addressed by management at the depot.
"They are going back to work as a result of an informal decision on the picket line," said a spokesman for the CWU.
"Part of it is the fact that they have had three days without wages and that it is always difficult to maintain an illegal strike.
"All the issues still remain unresolved and a request for an official ballot has been filed."
Official ballots can take several weeks to organise and could lead to further action.
When the postmen return tomorrow, they will be accompanied by the union's safety officer who will try to address the health and safety concerns which started the demonstration.
For more on the strike, see Thursday's Echo.
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by Sue, Scampton
Friday, March 27 2009, 7:08AM
“Any worker perfoming a public service such as postal delivery, shouldnt strike. People rely on giro's etc being delivered, although I am not one of those people I have been waiting all week for some essential items to be delivered in order for me to run my small business.
Im sure there are plenty of unemployed people who would happily step into the shoes of the striking postman/women.”
by J.Smith, Lincoln
Thursday, March 26 2009, 3:24PM
“John Stone Lincoln,
Oh thanks for that, now i can go and get drunk!. But think on, next time you and your P,O chums pull a stunt like you did you may be awaiting a giro too.
Then we can go and get drunk together.”
by Jas, Lincoln
Thursday, March 26 2009, 2:44PM
“May I make a suggestion, lets sell off the Post Office, what remains of British companies, utilities, farm land, the rest of the car industry, and everything to do with Britain, and called British.
Lets have an auction at Sotherby's and invite foreign entrepreneurs to the sale and make their bids.
Once this has been done and everything gone with every British worker dismissed, the entrepeneurs can invite those who are unemployed in their own countries to come to Great Britain and work, say £2.50 an hour. Cheap labour is good for big business. But if foreign workers are paid more for their work, they can afford and put to work the unemployed Britains, or better still, make them slaves to do with what and as they please.
By the looks of it , this is what the Tories want in reading the debate.
After all this is what happened throughout the Roman Empire - conquer or be conquered!”
by Ian Bower, Lincoln
Thursday, March 26 2009, 2:28PM
“At my work we hardly ever use 'land' mail. We have done all our invoicing and written comunication by email for years. It's faster, more reliable and hugely less expensive.
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The Royal Mail needs to realise that it is in danger of 'going under' which would be a shame, but, with their record of lost mail, mis-directed mail, late mail and the huge cost of using their service it could well happen.”
by Peter, Lincs
Thursday, March 26 2009, 2:28PM
“Are they? I've not had my mail today and i've not seen half as many posties around as I usually see (I live close to the main depo.)
I'm half and half about the whole situation really, for many of the posties, three days without pay can be troublesome especially in these hard times... for this I feel like it must be something serious for them to go to such drastic measures. However, to strike what i'm assuming on impulse (going by the story,) I can't help but feel other methods should have been used. While it makes their managers sweat, it's us who are the ones who suffer the most when they strike.”