Striking Royal Mail workers have delivered a stinging blast to bosses, accusing them of subjecting staff to ‘psychological attacks’.
About 115,000 staff launched their latest two-day walkout yesterday, as a row over pay and conditions rumbled on.
Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, warned more industrial action will follow – including on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest days of the year.
He alleged bosses ‘threaten our people every day’.
‘If they leave behind mail because they can’t complete it in normal work time, they’re threatened with the sack,’ he said. ‘They’re being pushed to this delivery, that delivery, and refused overtime.
‘They (Royal Mail) would rather have the quality of service failures, then they blame it on the postal workers. Genuinely, we’ve seen people resign. They’re sick of the attacks.’
Royal Mail said it was ready to resume talks to end the dispute.
Meanwhile, around 70,000 university lecturers walked out. Jo Grady, of the University and College Union, said staff have had enough of falling pay, pension cuts and gig economy work conditions.
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‘Around 90,000 staff are on fixed-term contracts. They want a career but are prevented from putting down roots,’ she added. Raj Jethwa, of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said their 13.6 per cent pay rise demand was ‘unrealistic’.
And in Scotland, teachers staged their first national strike in almost 40 years, as they called for a ten per cent rise.
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