Managers take strain as workers continue strikes

ROYAL Mail managers have been taking the strain while workers manned the picket lines.

Workers took part in a 24-hour strike yesterday after talks between the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and the postal service broke down on Wednesday.

However, to combat the strike, managers were drafted in to Royal Mail's Llansamlet sorting office to drive mail to delivery centres and take care of high-priority and special post.

The CWU called the industrial action — the third 24-hour strike in seven days — in protest at working hours, treatment of staff and the threat of modernisation.

Speaking from the picket line outside the sorting office on Swansea Enterprise Park yesterday, secretary of the CWU's South Wales regional branch, Les Evans said: "It's a last resort for the postal workers who are proud of their jobs and want to continue.

"The strong feeling with members is they have been left in an impossible situation."

One postman, who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions, said: "We are backing the union 100 per cent. What people don't understand is this has a lot to do with our pension fund and the Government has taken £800 million out of the pot.

"They are also not replacing workers when they leave, or 40-hour week workers are leaving and they are being replaced with 30-hour week workers.

"The job has become unrealistic. We enjoy what we do and we're proud to do it — we provide a valuable service, but it's no longer appreciated — my morning round is a seven-mile walk."

Another postman at the picket line in Llansamlet yesterday, said he'd been overwhelmed by public support. "We've had coffee brought to us by other union members, and drivers are honking their horns in support," he said.

Royal Mail has condemned the strikes, and bosses have called on the union to come back to the negotiating table.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "As part of our contingency to keep the mail moving, we have managers working in our operations.

"Some of these managers will be processing mail in our centres serving Wales, in Swansea, Cardiff, Shrewsbury and Chester, and some people will be driving vans. In Swansea Mail Centre, where delivery and collection postmen are also out on strike, managers will be delivering as many Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked premium services as possible."

Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, said Royal Mail was willing to talk for as long as it took to resolve the current dispute and get everyone back to work.

Mr Higson said: "We have repeatedly asked for a common sense approach that allows a strike-free Christmas while we talk about the future, yet even that seems too much for the CWU to accept."

He said: "The central issue remains the CWU's opposition to Royal Mail's essential modernisation plans, without which the company simply does not have a future.

"We know we have a long way to go, but our door is open for further talks and we remain hopeful common sense will prevail."

However, Mr Evans said he was hopeful an agreement could be reached.

"People have families to support and mortgages to pay — they don't want to go on strike," he added.

"We are hopeful we can reach an agreement before taking any more action."

Mr Evans dismissed comparisons between Royal Mail workers and miners, who spent months on strike in the 1970s and 1980s, saying: "I think we've moved on since then."

It was expected businesses would be badly affected by the strikes, however, a DVLA spokesman said its service had been largely unaffected.

He said: "DVLA is closely monitoring the situation to make sure it does all it can to minimise disruption to its customers. The DVLA's electronic services, which include an online and phone service to renew vehicle tax or declare a vehicle off road, help motorists to ensure their vehicle is taxed on time.

"Online applications can also be made for a first provisional driving licence, renew, update, exchange or replace a driving licence. We are working with enforcement bodies to highlight difficulties motorists may face as a result of industrial action."

The strike at the sorting office ended at 4am today. However, workers at sub-offices in Pontardawe and Mumbles were continuing to strike today.

On Saturday, postal workers at delivery centres, including offices near Neath train station, in Eagle Street, Port Talbot and also in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Gorseinon, will go strike from 6am.

Throughout the strike, there will be limited delivery and collection of mail in the majority of Welsh post codes. Priority will be given to special delivery and Royal Mail tracked items. In Swansea, SA1, SA2, SA5 and SA7 will be affected tomorrow. Post Office branches and Parcelforce have been operating as usual.