Postal workers to strike for two days over Christmas due to ‘heartless and brainless’ sacking of father of three

Royal Mail postal workers are set to strike in the 48 hours before Christmas Day after claims mail bosses left one of their colleagues “jobless and struggling” during Christmas.

On Monday, December 23 and December 24 workers at the Keynsham delivery office will stop working.

Paul Hollow, 38, a postman from Keynsham was sacked “under the sickness process,” a move that the Communication Workers Union believes was wrongly applied.

Mr Hollow who is married with three children was dismissed on November 30 after several absences.

He is reported to have suffered with depression after he lost a close family member to cancer and another member was diagnosed with the disease.

This, coupled with the fact he himself had faced a cancer scare led to a period of depression that took him out of the workplace.

However, when Mr Hollow returned to work “hoping to put the worst behind him,” colleagues claim instead of receiving support from his employer, he was called into a meeting and sacked.

Mr Hollow said: “I am in shock. I saw this as my career for the next thirty years. I am the main breadwinner for my family.

“We live paycheck to paycheck and now I don’t know how we will get through Christmas.

“I’ve always worked really hard at my job and been really flexible, working wherever the company sent me.

“Cancer has devastated my family over the last few years and I thought I was next.

“I thought Royal Mail would be supportive but they have completely let me down when I needed them.”

Why workers voted ‘yes’ for strike action over Christmas:

Workers at the Keynsham delivery office voted for strike action and noticed has been served for strikes.

An unnamed postal worker at the Keynsham branch said: “We are completely united in our disgust at the way our colleague has been treated.

“We want to see deeds, not merely words and lip service paid to the very real issue of mental health awareness.

“We didn’t want to be pushed into strike action, but unfortunately we have by Royal Mails decision to unjustly sack our colleague.”

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) represents around 3000 workers who work in both the Royal Mail and Post Office across Bristol and the surrounding areas.

What the Communication Workers Union says:

Branch secretary of the CWU, Rob Wotherspoon said: “This is one of the most callous cases I have ever seen.

“We believe there are major errors of process, but more than that; managers have completely failed to apply basic standards of human decency.

“This decision is both heartless and brainless. Royal Mail touts its credentials around mental health but this case suggests that unfortunately this is just an exercise in public relations.

“Postmen and women in Keynsham have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action to defend Paul, they deserve the respect and support of anyone who values compassion in the workplace.”

The planned strike days will take place 48 hours before Christmas Day and the union say they are likely to have a large impact on Christmas post.

What the Royal Mail says:

Somerset Live contacted the Royal Mail which said it is “disappointed” by the decision but says that measures are in place.

A spokesman said: “Royal Mail is disappointed that industrial action has been announced at Keynsham Delivery Office for the 23 and 24 December.

“While we do not comment on the details of individual cases, we can confirm that the correct procedures have been followed in this matter.