Posties launch wildcat strike action

Postal deliveries in Lincoln have been thrown into chaos after 70 postal staff walked out in a dispute over new working practices.

The unofficial strike action began after two postmen at the Firth Road delivery office were suspended without pay.

They had challenged bosses about changes they said they had not been trained for.

Thousands of items went undelivered across the city yesterday as the strike took hold.

Royal Mail wants to implement a "van sharing" scheme where two postmen per van are sent out on certain parcel rounds – rather than the current system of one postman per van.

Some workers – who had previously been bicycle delivery workers – arrived at work yesterday to be told that they now had to drive the vans.

The postal workers have accused managers of ignoring their pleas for a meeting.

Depot union representative David Burnett said workers had concerns over health and safety and contractual obligations.

"The union decided that if staff members did not want go with the new way of operating then they would get full backing, bringing us to the situation we're now in," he said.

But the workers are not protected under UK law and could lose their jobs or be sued for the move.

One worker on the picket line, who did not want to be identified, said: "Previously one postman would be responsible for his mail but this would mean there is another person involved.

"We don't know who would be held responsible if something was lost or stolen. They are using bully-boy tactics to push this through."

For the full story see Tuesday's Lincolnshire Echo.