Post peace talks end

Christmas deliveries could be affected

Talks aimed at averting a strike by post staff in parts of Scotland in the run-up to Christmas have ended.

Management and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) say they have identified "a number of issues" in the dispute.

Ballot papers for strike action have been sent to about 3,000 employees in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians amid allegations of bullying tactics by management.

More talks have been scheduled for next week with hopes of a settlement by next Friday.

Meanwhile, postal workers in Glasgow are holding a 24-hour strike in a protest over compensation payments for working during meal breaks.

Unfortunately, there have been a lot of managers moved on recently ... who have been replaced with nodding dogs, to be quite frank

Derek Dirkin

CWU representative Derek Dirkin said: "I would say that the actions of management over the last two or three weeks are designed to cause disruption and disputes.

"The actions and suspensions that have taken place over the last two or three weeks are absolutely unprecedented in the business certainly in this part of the world.

"The question you have to put to management is 'Why have these actions taken place at the current time when there is an Acas inquiry which has just begun?'

"If there is anybody that is breaching agreements then it is Royal Mail.

3,000 workers will take part in the ballot

"Royal Mail inexperienced managers who are put in and are riding roughshod over working practices.

"I don't know if it is a case of they don't know what they are doing or if they are giving blind allegiance to higher management, but certainly no consultation has taken place with our reps within the workplaces before these suspensions have taken place.

"We used to have a steady working relationship with management but, unfortunately, there have been a lot of managers moved on recently, more experienced managers, who have been replaced with nodding dogs, to be quite frank."

Royal Mail area manager Steve Cameron rejected the claims and said that any issues over staff suspension should be dealt with using agreed procedures and not strike action.

He said the issue of industrial relations in the service in the East of Scotland was already under review by conciliation service Acas.

'Agreed procedure'

He said: "Derek referred to recent bouts of unofficial industrial action resulted from conduct.

"Those actual conduct cases which resulted in unofficial industrial action are still running their course within an agreed procedure which we have with the union.

"Why are we having a call for strike action when we haven't even run through the agreed procedures?

"We do follow procedures and, if at any time we didn't follow procedures, there are processes like appeals, etc, in there to highlight that.

"In any case, there are less procedures relating to conduct in Edinburgh than the Scottish average.

"This bullying theme that would appear to be developing doesn't seem to be backed up by any fact."

He also rejected claims that employees were forced to do overtime.

'Inadequate compensation'

The Glasgow stoppage covers deliveries in the G13 and G14 postal areas.

Around 70 workers at the depot in Lincoln Avenue, Knightswood are involved.

CWU representative Norrie Watson said: "Our members were not getting paid adequate compensation for working during meal breaks over the last three years.

"They do not view the offer that has been made to them as sufficient."

The union has warned that further action could follow.