Employees want to let public know the truth

All 37 members of staff based in Blairgowrie have taken part in the industrial action, which was voted for by nearly 100 per cent of CommunicationsWorkers Union (CWU) staff nationwide.

One member of staff said:“We want to let the public know what’s going on. I couldn’t care less about a pay rise anymore, I just want them to leave us alone and let us do our job.

“There has been no investment in the company, I can’t even get a new winter jacket.

“They’re letting the van fleet run down and not repairing the vans.

“This is not what I signed up for 30 years ago.”

And another Blairgowrie-based postie added:“They’re trying to say it’s us that’s ruining Christmas.

“We would still do the overtime to catch up on the days we’re not striking, they’re just not letting us.

“And this is not just about this Christmas, this is about every Christmas in the future.

“There’s not going to be a Royal Mail as we know it, there will be no daily deliveries of letters through the door.

“As far as the bosses are concerned this is not about providing a service for members of the public, it’s about a select few lining their pockets under the guise of becoming a profitable company.

“Their sole prerogative is to keep the shareholders happy.

“Between us, the staff here have over 700 years of experience in the Royal Mail but the people in charge aren’t even from the industry and know nothing about the company - Royal Mail CEO Simon Thomson was part of the Test and Trace team. Although they are saying they are financially struggling at the moment we are the ones making them the profits.

“We were working all through the coronavirus pandemic, even at the start when no one knew what it was all about, only that people were dying, we were delivering tests, and they literally gave all the profits away to shareholders instead of reinvesting any of it back in to the company.

“And now we’re accused of costing the company money – we were heroes during Covid and now we are the bad guys.

“The whole workforce is just angry at the way we’re being treated.

“I would forgo any pay rise just to keep the terms and conditions we have fought for over the years.

“It is really not about the money, it is about saving the service.

“This is a community job, we all know our posties, we go to every door, we know what’s going on, we’re there all the time for our customers.”

Peter McLagan worked for the Royal Mail for 20 years and retired on the grounds of ill health brought on by stress from the job.

He was at the picket line in support of his former colleagues and told the Blairie:“The service we provide can literally be a lifeline to some people.

“I’ll give you an example – NHS appointment letters. The hospitals didn’t use Royal Mail, they used a different service which took the mail and then dumped it in our system.

“It should have been classed as first class but Royal Mail were just putting that to the side and not delivering it until the end of the week.

“I know that one of my customers who had cancer missed at least two appointments due to the letters arriving late.

“The public are moaning about the service they are getting just now but they’re going to have to get used to it because it’s going to get worse.

“Since Royal Mail has been privatised, look at the price of a stamp, it’s shot up. They’re looking for as much money as they can get.

“What’s happening now was predicted when they privatised the business and nobody listened, and if they don’t listen now there’ll be no business at all.

“The only people that care about our customers are the ones you see on the picket lines, these people you see standing out here fighting for the service.

“What’s happening to these people now is absolutely a disgrace.

“Every business has to make a profit but all the people higher up are interested in are the figures and making money.

“We could be fighting a lost cause here but we’re still going to fight.”

John Swinney, local MSP for the area and Deputy First Minister for Scotland, stressed the importance of the services provided, commenting:“The importance of a fullyoperational postal service cannot be understated, and this is particularly true in rural areas such as those near Blairgowrie.

“As we face the worst cost of living crisis in living memory, it is vital that workers receive a pay deal that both rewards their efforts whilst ensuring they can live comfortably.

“To that end, it is my hope that all stakeholders involved in this negotiation can reach a satisfactory agreement in the near future.”