Posties set to walk out again (From Oxford Mail)

Posties set to walk out again

9:13am Tuesday 5th September 2006 in News By Chris Koenig

Striking postal workers in Witney and Carterton have called for two more days of official strike action at the end of this month.

Communication Workers Union representative Bob Cullen said that although there had been some positive movement during negotiations with management on Sunday, members were still unhappy and had called for further action on Thursday, September 28, and Friday, September 29.

He added: "A backlog of about 200,000 items of post has already piled up. Workers will not be paid to sort it, so really the strike means the same amount of work for less money.

"But such is the strength of feeling that they want to strike. Several workers are off with stress and it is a matter of principle that these issues of bullying are sorted out."

"They have called for the strike at the end of the month to leave as much time as possible for negotiations."

Mr Cullen added: "It is not an easy decision for postal workers. It becomes personal for many of them, who live in the same villages in which they work."

Postal workers in Witney and Carterton were on official strike over allegations of bullying and harassment on Thursday and Friday last week, and yesterday.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said: "Managers have succeeded in clearing about half the mail. Anything posted in Witney was getting through during the strike. It was being collected by managers and taken to Oxford for sorting."

He added: "We are pleased that there is now a good deal of time before the next dates set for strike action. There have been some positive talks and we hope the situation will be resolved before that."