Royal Mail: Stockport wildcat strikers return to work whilst national talks exte
catch | 04.09.2007 20:47 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements
Several hundred workers at Stockport Mail Centre returned to work today having walked out unofficially on Friday. Meanwhile national talks between the CWU leadership and Royal Mail have been extended until Sunday.
Workers at Stockport returned today after agreeing to ballot for official strike action. They had walked out on Friday following a mass meeting in the canteen. The walkout occurred shortly after a driver was sacked due allegations made by a scab during the official strike action last month.
Also today, the CWU and Royal Mail announced an extension of the three week talks begun last month for a further five days. Two weeks of rolling strike action was suspended for the talks, and many local strikes have also been postponed while the talks continue.
Royal Mail workers on the royalmailchat.co.uk forum expressed frustration at the deadline extension, suggesting that the CWU leadership may be preparing for a climb down.
Many postal workers are keen to resume strike action, seeing the 22 "strings" attached to the below inflation pay deal as the final nail in the coffin for both their conditions of work and the postal service as a whole. At the same time there is a concern that continued delay of industrial action will lead to a loss of momentum, or possibly require a re-ballot for further strikes.
The public sector dispute saw an unlawful walkout by Prison Officers late last week, along with police officers demanding the right to strike, both rare occurrences in British industrial relations.
Unison announced today that it would be balloting local government workers for strike action over the 2% pay offer, which could mean strikes in early-October.
Also today, the CWU and Royal Mail announced an extension of the three week talks begun last month for a further five days. Two weeks of rolling strike action was suspended for the talks, and many local strikes have also been postponed while the talks continue.
Royal Mail workers on the royalmailchat.co.uk forum expressed frustration at the deadline extension, suggesting that the CWU leadership may be preparing for a climb down.
Many postal workers are keen to resume strike action, seeing the 22 "strings" attached to the below inflation pay deal as the final nail in the coffin for both their conditions of work and the postal service as a whole. At the same time there is a concern that continued delay of industrial action will lead to a loss of momentum, or possibly require a re-ballot for further strikes.
The public sector dispute saw an unlawful walkout by Prison Officers late last week, along with police officers demanding the right to strike, both rare occurrences in British industrial relations.
Unison announced today that it would be balloting local government workers for strike action over the 2% pay offer, which could mean strikes in early-October.
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