Diss postal workers go on strike over health and safety issue | Diss and Harleston News

PUBLISHED: 10:33 10 October 2019 | UPDATED: 16:34 10 October 2019

Simon Parkin

Postal workers at a sorting office covering towns and villages in South Norfolk have walked out in a dispute over health and safety concerns after flooding.

Postal workers outside the sorting office in Diss following a walk out. Picture: Simon Parkin

Staff at the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Diss began unofficial industrial action when they walked out at 7.30am on Thursday morning.

Dozens of workers in Royal Mail uniforms have since been standing outside the gates of the sorting offices on Chapel Street where about 100 people are employed.

Workers confirmed they were taking industrial action and that officials from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) were in talks with Royal Mail.

The dispute centres on a health and safety concerns after the sorting office suffered flooding during recent spells of heavy rain.

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A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that unballoted industrial action has taken place today at Diss Delivery Office.

“Following flooding over the weekend, the delivery office has been fully cleansed and sanitised and independently verified as a safe place to work.

“We remain committed to resolving our colleagues’ concerns in cooperation with the Communication Workers Union (CWU). We have asked everybody to return to work.”

The sorting office handles mail destined for deliveries in Diss and surrounding towns and villages in South Norfolk.

The Royal Mail spokesman added: “We sincerely apologise to customers in these areas for any disruption to their mail services.”