Workers at Royal Mail sites to strike next week

Maintenance workers at Royal Mail sites are to begin a three day strike over “draconian” attacks on working conditions.

The strike, backed by the Communication Workers Union, will see over 800 employees of facilities management firm Romec walk out after delivering a 98% majority in a strike ballot. The staff are electronic security and buildings maintenance engineers. Romec has pushed through changes in attendance patterns which will see managers being given the ability to force work on unsociable hours and at weekends.

Further action has been mooted should the strike, which begins next Tuesday morning, not bring about adequate resolution offers from management.

The consequences of the strike could be dramatic, compared to the number of strikers, as it will affect the ability to maintain key equipment and buildings. It is certain to affect direct postal services, despite claims by bosses to the contrary.

The strike follows on from a wave of action last year, and comes as further strike action over closures brews. The opening of the postal sector to private competition in 2006 has led to creeping attacks on working conditions as the Royal Mail, which still dominates the sector, seeks to “modernise” in accordance with competitive pressure. This has been of no benefit to consumers, according to an independent report, but has been a boon to big business.