Christmas mail is under threat

This as post and council strikes disrupted collections and deliveries of letters and closed schools and libraries. Tens of thousands of workers in London staged a 24-hour walkout in separate disputes over allowances, which could escalate in the coming weeks. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) warned that postal workers in other parts of the UK could be balloted in the next few weeks in another dispute over jobs and working practices, while the conflict in London looks set to continue into the busy run up to Christmas. The council workers' dispute worsened last night after employers withdrew their latest offer, to the anger of unions. Unison organised yesterday's council strike, which closed about 140 schools and 35 libraries and members of other unions could now become involved in future walkouts. Workers at mail centres and transport depots across the country could be asked to vote on industrial action in protest at job losses and new working practices, warned Dave Ward, deputy general secretary of the CWU. "Unless we get around the table it is likely we will have to consider whether or not to ballot our members on industrial action, because some of these changes have been imposed." Mr Ward claimed that thousands of Royal Mail managers had been bussed into London to cover for striking workers and many had been put up in hotels. The union claimed the managers were driving Post Office vans around London to try to show that the strike was not having an impact. The 24-hour walkout had been "solidly supported" by up to 30,000 union members, many of whom mounted picket lines across the capital.

Friday October 17, 2003