Leighton in direct bid to end UK postal strike
Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton unexpectedly turned up at a mass meeting in an unsuccessful bid to persuade postal workers to end an unofficial strike.
He addressed hundreds of postmen and women in Greenford, west London, where wildcat action had started and has since spread to other parts of the capital.
The workers listened to Mr Leighton, but then confronted him with allegations about bullying and intimidation by managers as well as complaining about their pay rates.
“He went away with his tail between his legs,” said one of the strikers.
Thousands of workers remained on unofficial strike across west London and other parts of the capital which has hit postal services.
The dispute started when a driver was suspended but has spread as managers tried to move mail to other centres.
The Communication Workers Union has urged the conciliation service Acas to launch an investigation into the “dramatic downturn” in the industrial relations climate within Royal Mail.
The union has said it has carried out all its legal responsibilities and was making every effort to bring about a return to work.
“The executive are satisfied that there is now a deliberate policy by Royal Mail to make working conditions intolerable for any of our members who take a different view to the new management regime,” said the union in a circular to its members.
The Royal Mail said it was doing everything it could to resolve the disputes.
