Royal Mail staff to strike in Luton tomorrow

18 October 2016

For immediate release

Royal Mail staff to strike in Luton tomorrow

250 postal workers from Luton and Leagrave delivery offices will be on strike tomorrow (Wednesday 19 October) for 24 hours in a dispute over the way staff are being treated in the office – including issues over suspensions and workload. The Communication Workers Union has asked management to engage in meaningful talks to resolve the dispute.

Postal workers voted over 90% in favour of strike action in a ballot which closed on 6 October. Strike action starts at midnight tonight and a picket line will be in place from 3am at 9-11 Dunstable Road, Luton, LU1 1AA. Postcodes LU1, LU2, LU3 and LU4 will be affected by the strike action.

Neal Kidwell, branch secretary for CWU’s Eastern No 6 branch, said: “Postal workers in Luton are at breaking point. There have been at least six serious cases at the delivery office in recent weeks, including staff being suspended, and things can’t go on. Postal workers are in fear of their jobs and many are routinely doing unpaid overtime to cope with unmanageable workloads because they fear management will not listen to their concerns.

“The union has serious concerns that Royal Mail has misapplied the company’s own agreed Conduct Code in the way that is dealing with employees.

“We realise that strike action will cause disruption to the public, however the CWU believe we have made every reasonable attempt to avoid industrial action through negotiations with the business without success. We will consider further strike action if genuine talks are not offered by management.”

Photo opportunity: Picket line protestors will be in place with photo opportunities between 8am and 11am.

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For more information, please contact branch secretary Neal Kidwell on: 07922 893630.

Area Delivery Rep Thomas Oakey 07760 196407 or Eastern Regional Secretary Paul Moffat 07912 945417