UK postal workers refuse to deliver BNP leaflets
Postal workers in the UK are refusing to deliver British National Party election leaflets because they object to its content, The Times has reported.
Postal workers in the UK are refusing to deliver British National Party election leaflets because they object to its content, The Times has reported.
The newspaper says that “about 100 workers in the West Country have told union leaders that they will not carry the leaflets, which bear an anti-immigration message”.
The article continues:
They have accused Royal Mail chiefs in Bristol and Somerset of “bullying”, with one office allegedly threatening workers with dismissal if they do not comply.
The Communication Workers Union says that Royal Mail is breaking a “conscience clause” agreed four years ago that allows staff to refuse to deliver literature they find offensive.
Dave Wilshire, spokesman for the Bristol and District Branch of the CWU, said: “Over the past 48 hours I have had around 32 calls from individual members and those speaking on behalf of groups, saying they don’t want to deliver the material.
“That is fair enough. The clause says members don’t have to deliver material if they feel threatened or if it is against their personal beliefs.
“In Bristol we have the St Paul’s area which has a very high density of those from ethnic backgrounds. Anyone being expected to post BNP stuff through there is going to feel at risk.
“Managers in Bristol are effectively bullying people.”
He added that it was “outrageous” that some had been threatened with losing their jobs.
One postman working in the Fishponds area of Bristol, said that his route bordered two ethnic-minority areas and it was “concerning” to be made to deliver inflammatory material.
He told the Western Daily Press: “We are being forced by management to give out the BNP material even though it’s against my beliefs — everyone knows what they stand for.
“We are being made to dish out this rubbish. I’ve read the BNP literature and although there isn’t anything racist or fascist on it, it does say ‘No to immigration’.”
Workers were asked to start delivering the material this week ahead of the European elections next month (June).
Simon Darby, BNP spokesman, said: “We have a contract with the Royal Mail to deliver some 29 million BNP leaflets. Some will be binned by Labour-supporting postmen who want to corrupt the democratic process, but it is a question of cutting that down.
“People will make up their own minds about the Communication Workers Union telling people what to do. This is the sort of thing that is happening in Zimbabwe.”
Royal Mail said: “Where possible we will try to be flexible and sensitive to individual personal circumstances or beliefs.
“However, we need to balance this with Royal Mail’s legal obligations under the Representation of the People Act, to deliver election material.”
