Postal workers decline Royal Mail offer

Striking postal workers in Belfast have declined an offer from Royal Mail bosses to bring an end to two-weeks of unofficial industrial action.

Last night, management agreed to use a third party to help improve future relationships with the union, but an expected deal has failed to materialise.

Following talks between Royal Mail and national representatives of the Communication Workers Union in London yesterday, management said that staff must return to work immediately and agree not to hold further industrial action for the next year, before a resolution can be agreed.

Strikers have also set a list of demands, with one of the key issues being an independent review of disciplinary procedures, which has given Royal Mail bosses, a sense of optimism of the strike coming to an end.

Over 200 postal workers went on strike on January 31 over disputes on disciplinary procedures between staff and management and alleged cases of bullying.

Since then, all deliveries to north, south and west Belfast have stopped with the east of the city remaining unaffected.

This has had a knock-on effect on the rest of the province with any mail being posted in the city not being processed, and no mail being sent to Britain or the Republic of Ireland. Royal Mail has also stopped accepting special delivery items.

The Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland has been greatly hit by the strike and the local economy has been badly disrupted.

Harry McGimpsey, FSB branch chairman said: “This strike is bringing small business owners to their knees, not just in Belfast, but right across Northern Ireland now. Many of our members are unable to receive cheques and other important mail, which has resulted in their cash flows being reduced by 95% in some cases.

He said the FSB was also concerned that many customers who shop with small businesses would not receive Chip & Pin numbers before today's deadline imposed by the banks.

“Given this difficult time for the economy, we hope that the four main banks will be as accommodating as possible if any small business owner has late payments.”

He concluded by urging both sides involved in the dispute to end it before small businesses are forced to close and jobs are lost.

Royal Mail has launched a helpline number for customers requiring information and advice on 08457 740740.

(EF/SP)