North West MP Exposes Workplace Bullying by Royal Mail Bosses
27th January 2010
Outspoken Southport MP John Pugh has alerted his fellow MPs to the appalling treatment of postal workers in his constituency by Royal Mail chiefs.
Introducing a debate in the House of Commons earlier this week, Mr Pugh started by praising the UK's postwomen and postmen for their devotion to duty.
"They work some pretty unsocial hours, yet they need to have the social skills to interact with every kind of person they meet," he said, adding: "They call at every house and every business, so they have an unrivalled view of how our communities and towns are made up and they are a tolerant lot, putting up with letterboxes in ridiculous places, dogs of all dispositions, and gates and paths that offer more in the way of hazard than access."
But this dedication to public service is clearly not appreciated by their own managers, the backbencher continued, telling the House that, "in the relatively small Royal Office in Southport, 46 postmen have been suspended or dismissed or have gone off work with stress."
Mr Pugh said that he had received countless emails and letters from victimised workers and their partners who were "alarmed by the prospect of dismissal, loss of income, mortgage arrears and repossession."
And the offences for which these workers are being disciplined - even if they are guilty of the offences - are, he insisted, ones that would warrant a corrective word of warning from a manager rather than the extreme sanctions that have been taken.
Giving some examples of injustices that have been brought to his attention, the crusading MP told his colleagues: "I have been told of a good career ending when a postman signed for a little old lady-a known customer whom he saw most days-so that she would not have to make the trek out of town to the sorting office, because there was no bus route. She phoned the office to get her thanks passed on, and it cost the postman his job.
"I have been told of a suspension when a postman stayed too long answering customer queries inside a shop. His load was left within range and eyesight, and critically within Post Office guidelines. He had to be reinstated, but he should never have been suspended.
"I have been told of postmen followed out to the countryside to isolated dwellings to see whether they leave their van unlocked for a second, which is not an altogether irrational thing to do, and of loyal workers suspended for mistakenly leaving a bag in a van or a letter in a post box-all understandable mistakes. "
Criticising the company for its over-reaction to each of these incidents, Mr Pugh argued: "They are cases for a word of advice, not for a disciplinary hearing."
And, voicing a suspicion that is growing among many postal workers, the MP added: It is a fact - a rather suspicious fact - that as experienced staff are replaced by less experienced staff, even if they successfully appeal to an employment tribunal, the crippling pension liabilities of Royal Mail are reduced. I have seen one case in which a saving of £37,000 was engineered, if I may put it like that, from such a dismissal.
"The management with that dismal record of suspension and dismissal received an award in 2009 for being the most improved. Is that because they have got gross staff hours down by 25 per cent?"
Fellow MPs Edward Timpson (Crewe and Nantwich) and CWU-supported Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran) also spoke in the debate, voicing similar concerns about the treatment of postwomen and postmen in their respective constituencies.
In replying to the points made by Mr Pugh, Postal Affairs Minister Pat McFadden (Woverhampton South East) said: "In the Postal Services Act 2000, we established a clear distinction between ownership of the company and the day-to-day running of the company. I am not going to get into second-guessing the disciplinary procedures inside individual sorting offices. The management and unions must work together to ensure that the proper procedures are in place.
"It is for Royal Mail and its work force to work through the issues, because they are responsible for the day-to-day running of the company."
