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Hundreds of postal workers are voting on strike action which could affect Christmas deliveries in North and North East Lincolnshire.
A ballot of more than 200 Royal Mail staff at Grimsby is underway and includes hundreds of other sorting office and postal staff in Immingham, Scunthorpe, Louth Alford and Barton.
The national dispute centres on an agreement reached between the previous chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene and the postal union, The Communicationion Workers Union.
Called “The Four Pillars” agreement, it was one of the final acts of Ms Greene, covering pay rises, pension proposals and moves to reduce working hours from 39 to 35 a week by 2022, subject to productivity improvements.
But the unions say the new chief executive Rico Back has ignored that agreement.
The CWU said that labour relations have worsened since Greene was succeeded.
(Image: Getty)
CWU branch secretary, Steve West, who looks after thousands of workers in the Doncaster and Lincolnshire area said: “That deal has been renaged on. It was 18 months ago that we agreed to stop a bullying culture in Royal Mail.
“We are asking for members to vote for a strike unless the new CEO keeps to the deal. We are not asking for a new deal, just to stand by the old deal,” he said.
He said there are around 200 workers based at the sorting office in Fotherby Street, Grimsby, around 120 in Scunthorpe, 60 at Immingham and 60 at Louth.
There are also around 40 staff at Barton.
One Grimsby postman said: “Feelings are running very high and there is going to be a lot of support for action. It is being timed to put pressure on Royal Mail to get to the negotiating table, with Christmas coming up which is the busiest time of the year.”
There are around 100,000 staff taking part in the ballot.
A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “Royal Mail confirms it has received formal notice from CWU that it intends to ballot its members for industrial action. Under the terms of the notice, all CWU members (other than those working in Royal Mail Property and Facilities Solutions) will be balloted.
(Image: Rick Byrne / Grimsbylive)
“A ballot result for industrial action does not necessarily mean there will be industrial action. No industrial action can be taken before the conclusion of our mediation period. We will continue to engage in the agreed dispute resolution processes set out in the Agenda for Growth. We will be urging our colleagues to vote ‘no’ in the upcoming ballot.
“Industrial action – or the threat of it – undermines the trust of our customers. It makes it harder for Royal Mail to pay for the existing industry-leading terms and conditions it provides.
“Royal Mail is committed to further talks as a matter of urgency. We believe there are no grounds for industrial action. We remain committed to open and constructive engagement with the CWU. We all want a successful and sustainable company that provides good quality jobs, fairness in workloads, and continues delivering a sustainable Universal Service.”
The result of the balllot is expected in early October.
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