Government letting postal industry rot, claims union

Published on Wednesday 26 August 2009 21:58

THE government has been accused of letting the postal service "rot" as thousands of staff prepared to launch a fresh wave of strikes in the bitter row over jobs, pay and conditions.

Members of the Communication Workers Union in areas including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, London and Middlesbrough will take industrial action over the next few days as preparations are made for a national ballot.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, accused Royal Mail managers of harassing staff and also attacked the government for refusing to intervene in the dispute.

"The postal industry needs the government to address the crucial issues of pensions and regulation that they themselves identified," he said.

"The government's position of doing nothing because they did not get their way on privatisation means they are guilty of letting the postal industry rot."

The Royal Mail described the claims of bullying as "totally untrue", adding that more than 90 per cent of staff will be working normally over coming days.

"We will be doing our best to mitigate the impact of strikes in any area," the Royal Mail spokesman added.