UK Royal Mail leaders in Christmas mail threat

Postal workers’ leaders warned that industrial action over pay could threaten the Christmas mail could and spread across the country as thousands of postmen and women staged their latest walkout.

Members of the Communication Workers Union in London marched through the capital and called on the Government to intervene in a bitter row over allowances.

Deputy General Secretary Dave Ward warned that postal workers in other parts of the UK could be balloted in the next few weeks in a separate dispute over jobs and working practices.

Workers at mail centres and transport depots could be asked to vote on industrial action, he warned.

“Unless we get around the table it is likely we will have to consider whether or not to ballot our members on industrial action, because some of these changes have been imposed.”

Mr Ward claimed that thousands of Royal Mail managers had been bussed into London to cover for striking workers and many had been put up in hotels.

The union claimed that the managers were driving Post Office vans around London to try to show that the strike was not having an impact, but in fact the vehicles were empty.

The 24-hour walkout has been “solidly supported” by up to 30,000 union members, many of whom mounted picket lines across the capital.

The union’s General Secretary, Billy Hayes, said it was time for the Government to stop sitting on the sidelines and to try to help resolve the row over London Weighting allowances.

He said the public would expect “postwoman Pat” – referring to Trade and Industry secretary Patricia Hewitt – to intervene to sort out the “mess”.

Mr Hayes said one-third of mail went through London and predicted that disruption caused by the strike would be felt in other parts of the country.

The union said it was prepared to continue with the dispute, adding pointedly that the Royal Mail was approaching the busy run up to Christmas.

Angela Mulcahy, 37, a union rep base at the east London mail centre, said a coach load of managers from Chesterfield was driven past her picket line earlier today.

Dozens of other managers arrived on foot and walked through the picket line, she said.

Ms Mulcahy said postal workers were more determined than ever to continue with the dispute, even though the Royal Mail has already paid an increase of #300 on London Weighting.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of council workers went out on strike in London in a separate dispute over pay, and BT workers staged a demonstration outside the firm’s head office, also calling for an increase in allowances.