Union chief allays picket-line fears

UNION reps have slammed fears of violence at the picket lines during the postal strike on Thursday and Friday.

Police were warned to prepare for disorder during the national walkout, with the Association of Chief Police Officers issuing guidance on how to deal with industrial disputes.

Royal Mail angered members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over the weekend by announcing it would be hiring 30,000 temporary staff to sort and deliver mail during the action.

Ted Stead, secretary of the office branch of the CWU, said fears of violence on the picket lines was just media hype.

He said: “I don’t know where that has come from, its been hyped-up.

“I can’t see that happening, there will definitely not be bad behaviour in Oldham.”

Around 250 postal workers will take part in the strike locally.

Mr Stead added: “Union reps will be monitoring the picket lines and we are all aware of how bad behaviour can reflect badly on us and see us lose our jobs.”

However, Mr Stead did say the union would be challenging the hiring of temporary staff today, a move he believed was illegal. He said: “We think it is against employment laws and could be illegal. When there is an official strike, it is illegal to get agency staff workers to do the work of people on strike.

“Royal Mail said they are only there to ‘help clear the backlog’ but in Oldham, we haven’t got a backlog because we haven’t been on strike yet.

“Oldham is clear so they can’t use that as an excuse or as a rule across the country.

“Last minute talks will take place today between the union and Royal Mail and we will be asking for an independent body to mediate.”

Staff at the processing centre in Oldham Road, Manchester, will strike from 4am on Thursday with employees at Oldham’s Hamilton Street centre following suit on Friday.