postal service
News and articles about work, policy and struggles in the communications sector, from telecoms to postal and delivery services around the world.
France: round-up of strikes and more government attacks on conditions
The government continues attacking workers and immigrants and workers continue defending themselves.
Just outside of Paris at the Areva TD factory in Montrouge, 89 striking workers have been occupying and blockading the factory for four days.The movement began after management announced plans to close the factory, which produces electrical transformers. Workers are demanding large compensation payments, management is currently refusing to negotiate.
France: Postal workers to strike against job cuts
Workers in Paris' 8th district are planning strike action after management announced the loss of 111 jobs.
Workers, with the support of the SUD and CGT unions have given notice of an unlimited strike to begin Monday.
1970: US national postal strike
A short account of the illegal nationwide postal strikes that spread across America in 1970. After two weeks, during which time the army was called out to break the strike, workers eventually won increases in pay and the right to negotiate on contracts with bosses.
Beginning on the morning of March 18, the strike had been precipitated by months of stalling by union leaders and government officials. With no rights to collective bargaining, and having not seen wages increase between 1967 and 1969, anger amongst postal workers had been simmering for years.
Burslem postal workers extend strike
Postal workers at Burslem delivery office step up their dispute by extending their current 15 day strike by a further fortnight.
The 100 strikers, member of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), are refusing to deliver mail until at least 16th January following a meeting between workers. The extension came ahead of talks between the union and Royal Mail.
Burslem postal workers strike over Christmas
Postal workers at the Burslem delivery office start industrial action in a dispute over the suspension of 12 colleagues.
Burslem Delivery Office has been the site of a large number of unofficial walkouts this year, alongside the official strike action in August and October.
UK: Royal Mail workers vote yes to settlement
Breaking news: 64% of postal workers voted to accept a settlement offer from Royal Mail bosses, which failed to meet many of the demands of strikers.
The vote was on a 64% turnout.
Many workers have reacted angrily to the news, with one employee on Royal Mail Chat stating:
Quote:
This is a s**t deal!.. We better all head to Tescos and HOPE that we get jobs there! Cause this job is f****d! If I get my hands on those crooked union reps or royal mail management bastards, they're all dead I tell you!
France: More workers join strikes
Hundreds of thousands of health workers, civil servants, printers postal workers and air traffic controllers yesterday joined transport and energy strikes over pensions and pay.
Thousands joined street protests in Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg, Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon and other cities.
The 24 hour strike left many schools closed, hospitals providing a reduced service and newsagents without newspapers.
The BBC reported that the French capital's two airports and Marseille airport in the south suffered delays and cancellations.
Examining the 2007 Royal Mail dispute
Rob Ray explains the introduction of competition to the postal service, and why it will be the government, not postal workers, who the public have to thank for the loss of cheap post and the universal service.
The problem, according to headlines in the mainstream press, was a 2.5% pay rise being offered by Royal Mail to its 190,000 workers, along with some vague problems to do with ‘terms and conditions’.
The reality of what is being faced by the postal workers is far more complex and vastly more damaging, not just for them, but for everyone who wants to be sure of getting their mail.
Unofficial action at Royal Mail continues
Despite official strikes being called off, wildcat strikes and other disputes continue in the postal service.
Belfast
Postal workers in Belfast have won an important victory against management after unofficial action on Friday of last week. It took the workers just one and a half hours to force down bosses’ attempts to change start times.
Managers insisted that the workforce put forward their start times by two hours.
Postal dispute: High court blocks Monday's official action
The High Court has blocked official strike action by postal workers on Monday and Tuesday.
The Royal Mail was granted an injunction to stop CWU members at sorting and delivery offices from striking. Royal Mail says an irregularity in the way the strike notice was issued makes the action illegal. The union insisted the strike was legitimate because it fully complied with the law. Rolling strikes similar to those in August were due to start on Monday.
