Pay 2007
UK: Post Office strikes continue
Workers at Crown Post Offices struck yesterday and on Friday, and are due to strike again tomorrow to stop plans to outsource services to WH Smiths.
While management tried to downplay the effects of the strike, the CWU claimed that members supported the strikes in overwhelming numbers. Post Office Limited (POL) Head Office was placed in disarray due to severe staff shortages as managers were once again forced to travel at great cost across the country to cover members’ jobs.
Royal Mail strikes suspended for talks as work to rule continues
Royal Mail and the CWU leadership announced the suspension of strike action for three weeks for talks. Meanwhile, on the job and unofficial action continues.
Postal workers were just about to resume a second two weeks of rolling strike action, which has already built up 10-14 days backlog at Royal Mail depots around the country.
UK: Local government workers reject pay cut
The threat of strikes across England, Northern Ireland and Wales has moved closer with Unison's local government workers voting overwhelmingly to reject a below-inflation pay offer of 2%.
In a branch consultation covering all relevant regions, 81% voted to reject the offer, giving a major thumbs-down to the suggested 'pay cut' that a below-inflation 2% pay "increase" would represent.
Postal workers wildcat in Swindon
More than 500 workers walk out over the transfer of prominent strikers to elsewhere in the company.
The strike at the Hawksworth sorting office lasted two hours until the CWU union persuaded the strikers to return to work. They were angry that two collegues who had taken an active part in the ongoing national strikes were being transferred to another area.
More strikes at the Post Office and Royal Mail
Crown post offices are to go on strike this week against plans to transfer services to WH Smith, while Royal Mail workers begin their third week of rolling strikes.
The Post Office Ltd. wants to shut 85 post offices and shift services over to the much lower-paid workers at WH Smith, as part of its overall plan to close around 1,000 post offices. Post Office Ltd.
Dispatch 1 - Royal Mail strikes, August 2007
First issue of a bulletin about the public sector pay struggles of summer 2007 by a group of workers around libcom.org. This issue focusses on postal workers.
Available here in TIF and here in PDF format. The text follows:
Dispatch
Public sector pay dispute — information for action
Issue 1 - August 2007
Royal Mail workers: Fighting to win
Doing the job as it’s meant to be done
Royal Mail wildcats spread to north of England
The wildcat strikes at Royal Mail which began in Glasgow, spread across Scotland, and ended today also reached Newcastle, Liverpool and Chester yesterday. And Hartlepool today.
Liverpool:
Managers drove mail into the building, which resulted in a wildcat at the Liverpool Mail Centre when workers refused to unload the lorry. The wildcat was supported by Polish agency workers who refused to cross the picket line, and instead went to the pub.
Newcastle:
Scotland: Postal staff vote to end wildcat strike
60% of post workers from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have voted to return to work after both a wildcat strike that started on Tuesday.
However, the CWU's round of 'staggered stoppages' was due to end on 7 of August but has now been extended by at least two weeks. Therefore workers in Scotland will be back out on strike again, and so staff from working sections of Royal Mail coming in contact with picket lines from striking sections will still be an issue.
UNISON education workers accept pay offer
In a UNISON consultation, only four of fifty-three colleges reject 2% and 1% sequenced pay increases. Offer is "not quite bad enough," national officer comments.
Workers in England's further education and sixth form colleges have voted to accept the employers' 2007/8 pay offer.
UNISON's consultation with members saw 53 colleges respond, with only four rejecting the offer of a 2% rise from 1 August 2007 and a further 1% increase from 1 February 2008, applying to all salaries and allowances.
Social care workers in Glasgow on indefinite strike
600 social care workers at Glasgow Council are about to enter their second week of strike action.
A pay review by Glasgow City Council could lead to workers losing up to £1,000 per year. The workers were originally balloted for work to rule, but following threats of legal challenges by GCC they began all out indefinite strike action last week (23 July).
