Postal strike leaves huge backlog

The dispute was over the recruitment of casual staff

The Royal Mail says it will take up to a week to clear the huge backlog of post left by an eight-day strike at its main office in Cardiff.

The thousand striking workers agreed to go back to work on Wednesday after ending their unofficial stoppage.

Tthe strike has left more than million items of unsorted mail.

But Royal Mail's area manager Ninian le Blanc has promised all the items will be delivered in time for Christmas.

Extensive negotiations

The industrial action centred on extra workers taken on at the sorting office in Penarth Road in Cardiff to deal with Christmas operations.

Seasonal staff were brought in a week earlier than normal this year - the Communication Workers' Union claimed the policy broke national guidelines.

The strike was unofficial and technically illegal because there was no ballot of union members.

Although extensive negotiations resolved the staffing issues, the union was not happy that the Royal Mail had continued with disciplinary action against a member of staff.

Series of disputes

Union officials have said management have agreed to look at the issues at a national level.

And they have also agreed no disciplinary action will be taken against CWU officials.

Workers picketing the sorting office claimed widespread support for their action amongst colleagues and had warned the dispute could escalate.

Managers were forced to collect mail from post boxes around Cardiff and make special deliveries themselves.

The action was the latest in a series of disputes at the sorting office.

Workers have walked out on several occasions in recent years - giving the workforce a reputation as one of the most militant in Wales.