NW Representatives Visit Burslem Picket Line Christmas Eve

In order to show support Steve Fishwick (NEC Member), Ray Atkinson (Regional Project Worker Lifelong Learning), Steve Ratcliffe (Youth Development Worker), and Carl Webb Regional Secretary visited the Burslem Picket Line on Christmas Eve delivering a message of solidarity from all North West branches.

Members from all constituencies of the union from the NW, NE, London, Wales, and Midland regions joined nearly 100 Burslem members on the picket line.

Postal workers in Burslem, members of the Midland No7 branch are striking to defend twelve colleagues who were suspended in September.

Spirits are high and the members with the support of the whole union are determined to win this dispute. If defeated, this will give Royal Mail a green light to hide behind a process to sack CWU Reps and activists as it sees fit.

Also visiting the picket line was Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Joan Whalley who along with Robert Flello her fellow MP for Stoke and the Mayor of Stoke Mark Meredith have called on Royal Mail to allow the case to be heard by an independently chaired appeals panel. Royal Mail is still refusing to apply this standard process to the case of workers suspended in September at Burslem delivery office.

Carl Webb and Martin Walsh London Divisional Officer spoke to the pickets sending the best wishes of branches and members around the country. A representative from the Fire Brigades Union also spoke of the need for Unity to resolve this dispute.

Lee Barron, Midlands Regional Secretary, said: “Postal workers at Burslem are determined to have justice for their colleagues. All the CWU is asking for is that this case be heard by an independent appeals panel which is a standard procedure in these cases. We have the support of the Mayor of Stoke and local MPs for this. What does Royal Mail have to hide?”

The CWU remains committed to resolving this dispute.

The strike was due to finish on 2nd January 2008 but will now continue until 16th January unless Royal Mail moves the issue to an independent appeals panel.

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