Wildcat postal strike continues

Up to 100 postal workers have manned a picket line in Dartford

Industrial action by hundreds of postal workers in protest at a colleague's suspension has entered its fourth day.

The wildcat action by the 400 staff at Dartford's Royal Mail sorting office started on Tuesday when a driver was suspended for refusing to move mail, according to union officials.

Talks to resolve the dispute are now being held at a national level between the Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

The two sides seemed no closer to reaching a resolution at 1600 BST on Thursday because of disagreement over return-to-work procedures.

The union needs to pull its activists out of the 70s timewarp they are stuck in Roger Baynes, Royal Mail

Managers and casual staff have been drafted in to sort some mail, with pillar boxes remaining open but no deliveries in Dartford town centre.

Up to 100 postal staff have manned a picket line since Tuesday afternoon, although the suspended driver has been re-instated.

Wildcat strikes are also currently going on in west London and Greenford.

The CWU claims the return-to-work agreement proposed by Royal Mail signed workers up to a raft of changes to their working conditions which were unacceptable.

Sign away benefits

The union has said it is prepared to talk about the issues, provided that nationally agreed negotiating principles are followed.

Royal Mail has called on the union to bring the unofficial strike to an end and has apologised for any disruption to deliveries.

Roger Baynes, head of operations for Royal Mail, said: "Royal Mail has said all along that, following any unofficial strike action, we will have a clear-cut return-to-work agreement that puts customer service first.

"The union needs to pull its activists out of the 70s timewarp they are stuck in.

"They need to look forwards, not backwards, and behave in the modern way most unions do."

The stoppage follows two 24-hour strikes in Dartford in a separate claim over the London Weighting pay allowance.