The postal workers’ union is to ballot its members on strike action over the closure of a Derbyshire sorting office. Officials of the CWU say they have not been consulted over plans for the Heanor office, which is to transfer its staff and business to the Ilkeston office eight miles away. Royal Mail say that this will improve things for customers, as they will now be able to collect parcels as late as 6.45pm, instead of having to do so before 12.30 as currently. The CWU say that in other areas, service quality has fallen when sorting offices have closed, and that the way that staff have been treated is “an absolute disgrace”.
Meanwhile, Hellmail report that union leaders are meeting on Tuesday to discuss a national strike ballot over the recent RM pay offer. Dave Ward, CWU Deputy General Secretary, said “Unless there is a dramatic change in Royal Mail’s attitude there is no prospect of us reaching an agreement and a major dispute is inevitable.”
