Postal misery set to continue?

Published 28 Oct 2009 17:20 0 Comments

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THE town's posties joined their counterparts across the country in taking strike action last week.

The dispute between the Royal Mail and CWU, the communications trade union, is an ongoing row over pay, working conditions and reform.

Postal workers at the Cross Arthurlie Street depot reluctantly took the decision to strike as they felt there was no alternative.

And Barrhead man Jim McKechnie, of Lochlibo Road, has been heavily involved in trying to resolve the situation in his role as secretary of the Glasgow and District Amal branch of CWU.

Jim, who looks after 5,500 posties in his role as secretary, insists they do not want to strike but he told the Barrhead News they have no choice but to deny the public their right to a postal service from the Royal Mail.

He said: "Where we are right now is if we can't come to an agreement nationally we will strike again this week.

"The union at no time wants the public to suffer but unfortunately we have nowhere to go as the Royal Mail would not enter discussions with the union.

"We have held the olive branch out there at any time to have a sit down and discuss this but they have refused it and then all of a sudden the TUC (Trade Union Congress) are getting involved as a middle man to try and solve the situation.

"It would suit us to get this sorted and not go on strike as it would save us money and mean people were getting their right of having their mail delivered."

Meetings were being held between the Royal Mail and the union yesterday.

However, Jim told the News if an agreement is not reached by 9pm this Friday then Barrhead's posties will strike until the same time the following day which would mean no deliveries in the town on Saturday.

The mail centre is also planning to strike for 24 hours from 4am on Thursday and since these drivers ferry the mail out to Barrhead it would have a knock on affect here.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, speaking on behalf of the Royal Mail, said the CWU and the Royal Mail had held meetings on Monday and Tuesday at the TUC to discuss all issues involved in the current dispute.

When the Barrhead News went to print neither the CWU nor the Royal Mail had made any further comment.

This article appeared in Barrhead News 28 Oct 09

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