Wirral postal strikes loom over “vindictive” sackings

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
24/10/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

WIRRAL POSTAL STRIKE LOOMS AFTER WORKERS VOTE FOR ACTION AGAINST “VINDICTIVE” SACKINGS

Postal services in the Wirral may come to a stand-still after Royal Mail workers have voted to take action against the “petty” sacking of their colleagues for taking a tea break.

In a ballot announced today (24^th October), members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at Prenton Delivery Office (DO) voted by 95.8% on a 70.6% turnout to take strike action.

The action is over decision of local Royal Mail management to dismiss four workers for taking a tea break at a local gastropub in August.

While 11 of these employees were initially suspended for taking the breaks – which they are contractually entitled to – local management eventually ruled that four would not be returning to work earlier this month, including a worker with 44 years of unblemished service.

The decision was met with anger by an already demoralised workforce of around 30 employees – as well as in the wider community, which has been subject to persistent postal delays due to under-recruitment and management cuts.

The union is demanding that management get back around the negotiating table to work out a solution where all workers will be reinstated.

A CWU spokesperson said: “The result is a clear demonstration of the anger workers feel about this petty, vindictive attack on their respected colleagues.

“It is a clear rejection of a culture of bullying and mismanagement in the workplace.

“This situation won’t be solved by management doubling down on poorly-handled decisions, but with a decent compromise that sees these workers reinstated and the workforce treated with the respect they deserve.”

ENDS

For more information or media requests, please contact CWU Press Officer Marcus Barnett on 07812590450 or mbarnett@cwu.org.