News RSS Feed


Postal ballot under way

11:27am Friday 25th July 2008

comment Comments (14)   Have your say »


A ballot for industrial action by postal workers in Oxford was being completed today.

Earlier this month, postal workers in the city voted to ballot for industrial action over increased workloads.

Union officials said mail workers took the decision at a time when they were bearing the brunt of public frustration for post arriving later in the day.

They claimed public disquiet was already taking its toll on the workforce, with staff leaving as a result.

The unanimous vote in favour of industrial action raised the threat of more than 200 workers going on strike in the city as soon as August.

Bob Cullen, area processing representative for the Communications Workers' Union, said: "We are balloting for industrial action at the five delivery offices in Oxford, not the mail centre.

"About 300 people took part in the ballot and all the papers should be in by the end of the day.

"The responses from each office have to be analysed so we are not expecting a result until Monday.

"If there is a decision to go for strike action, that would have to be passed to the Post Executive on Thursday and the strike would not go ahead for another seven days."

Royal Mail is expected to respond later today.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourOxford Mail

Janet, Oxford says...
11:55am Fri 25 Jul 08

Although I hate my post being late, I do sympathise with the postmen. Apparently management have a computer system in place, which says that the postmen can do about 25% more drops per day than they already do, and in the same time. Also, I don't think there are any night staff employed now to sort, and as the postmen can't start their rounds until everything is sorted, they are often not able to leave the sorting offices till around 10am. Things are only going to get worse.

Report this post »

Mr Man, Oxford says...
1:05pm Fri 25 Jul 08

This makes my blood boil.

If they don't like the job find another one and stop going on and on.

Sack the lot of them.

Report this post »

A real worker, Oxfordshire says...
1:14pm Fri 25 Jul 08

Union officials said mail workers took the decision at a time when they were bearing the brunt of public frustration for post arriving later in the day.
They claimed public disquiet was already taking its toll on the workforce, with staff leaving as a result


What do you expect when they are always going on strike? In the end, we (their customers!!) just get hacked off with it.
Every decision in my job hasn't always been most welcome but I do not encourage strike action. You get on with it! That's what you are paid for! If you don't like it, find another job.

Report this post »

Tim, Rose Hill says...
1:28pm Fri 25 Jul 08

all the papers should be in by the end of the day


They must have splashed out on courier delivery rather than relying on Cowley Sorting Office then, or they would be talking about getting 90% of the papers in by the end of next week and the other 10% never turning up at all.

Report this post »

Botley Sarge, Botley says...
2:05pm Fri 25 Jul 08

Is it really any wonder the Royal Mail management have decided to shift operations to swindon? If the staff in Oxford actually got on with their jobs and stopped going out on strike every couple of months then things would possibly be different. At least they would have more support from the general public!
Every single one of us is having to put up with more and more duties, stress and strain in their workplace but the majority understand the need for change and get on with things, maybe the local posties should take heed!

Report this post »

nut job, says...
2:10pm Fri 25 Jul 08

It is the summer after all

Report this post »

Andy, says...
2:37pm Fri 25 Jul 08

So all of you on here moaning about the posties, would work extra hours, do more work and have other benifits cut but get no extra wages for it. I DONT THINK SO!.The reason your post is getting later all the time is because of new management practices. Less post is getting sorted out in the evenings so the posties have to sort even more post out before they can leave for their rounds.They are now not allowed to leave before 6.ooam. Blame the management not the posties for all the problems.

Report this post »

Cy Nic, Abingdon says...
2:52pm Fri 25 Jul 08

Aha, school holidays here again, got to look after the kids and grandkids for 6 weeks! Forget the ballot:
What do they want? the sack:
when do they want it? Now, instantly if possible.

Report this post »

Homer, says...
3:09pm Fri 25 Jul 08

Do you idiots really believe the postman can afford to take all this time off without pay?
No..they do not take this lightly. You keep moaning about the post getting later and later..it is not the postmans fault! The management system being put in place is whats wrong. If you normally type out 100 letters in four hours then deliver them in two and your manager says to you, you will now type out 150 letters in four hours and still deliver them in the same time, could you?? This senario is what is being asked of the postman.

Report this post »

xyz, ox says...
3:29pm Fri 25 Jul 08

In the 70s 80s and 90s, last mail of any item was delivered by 9.35am and Royal Mail was making profit £2 million a day, Now people are getting their mail at 5 or 6 pm and Royal Mail is making loss... who fault is this? 100% management fault with their new ways and system. And managers get BIG bonous every months.

Report this post »

xyz, ox says...
3:44pm Fri 25 Jul 08

Industrial action YES YES YES, all out strike NO NO NO, work to rule YES YES YES .(Just 8 hrs duty and do your work... no extra work... after 3 days and 5 delivery offices will be chock of block with undelivered mail.)

Report this post »

bex, OXON says...
4:30pm Fri 25 Jul 08

Shut the place down...and let the whinging strikers try and find work elsewhere...put up or shut up and leave!!!...muppets!

Report this post »

Janet, Oxford says...
4:55pm Fri 25 Jul 08

bex wrote:
Shut the place down...and let the whinging strikers try and find work elsewhere...put up or shut up and leave!!!...muppets!
and if this did happen, then you'd soon find the workers who took their place would soon be striking because of the management. As in any workplace, you do what management tell you to do, and in Royal Mail's case, seems that management want to run royal mail into the ground by introducing unworkable schedules and practices.

Report this post »

Mr Ison, England says...
11:58pm Fri 25 Jul 08

Hmmm,hot stuff!

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

In this section

Essential Links

Sponsored Links



UK Debt Help and Advice | IVA help and advice | The truth about IVAs | Stay with Prague Hotels | Visit Spain with Barcelona Hotels

Local Advertisers


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »