CWU launches another week of post strike, London hit hard again

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has stepped up pressure on Royal Mail by launching another week of postal strikes across the country. As with previous week of strike, London is hit hard by the new postal strike.

The postal strike taking place on the week beginning of September 28 will be predominantly be focused on affecting the capital, but other parts of the country will also face industrial walkout as fears rise for the increasing volume of backlogged mail.

On Monday September 28 the following places will participate in the strike: Burslem, Coventry, Eastwood, Glasgow mail centre, Nottingham East, Plymouth and six areas in London.

Royal Mail will witness the full brunt of this week’s strike on Tuesday. Nearly the whole of London’s postal service will participate in the walkout. Other places participating in the postal strike on Tuesday are: Bangor Regis, Bristol mail centre, Cambridge, Middlesbrough, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and five areas in Kent. In Scotland postal workers in five areas will join the picket lines.

Van and logistics drivers across a number of regions including Birmingham, Bristol, Carlisle, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Northampton, Swindon, East London, Vauxhall and other parts will halt their work in support of the industrial action against Royal Mail.

Royal Mail has been refusing to enter into negotiations with the CWU and accuse the union of blocking modernisation plans that are vital for the survival of the national postal service.

The union, on the other hand, accuse Royal Mail of breaching an agreement made in 2007 where Royal Mail agreed to enter into negotiations before going ahead with major modernisation plans.

The bitter dispute has already led to numerous localised postal strikes for several weeks. This has resulted in large volumes of mail backlog and disruption to numerous businesses. Royal Mail has apologised for this and released statements saying it is doing all it can to ensure a smooth operation of the postal service.

The union is carrying out a national ballot currently and 121,000 of its members are voting whether to go ahead with a national postal strike in protest against Royal Mail’s refusal to enter into negotiations with the union over modernisation plans. The national ballot closes on October 8. If the national postal strike goes ahead, it would be a severe blow to the already struggling Royal Mail and would lead to national wide chaos and disruption to the postal service.

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