Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Postal workers go on strike after staffing row
About 70 postal workers went on strike at Canterbury’s sorting office in a dispute over staffing.
Dozens of Royal Mail employees gathered outside the office in Military Road last Thursday after six postmen were reportedly suspended from their deliveries by managers.
One relative of a worker, who did not give their name, says the dispute had been brewing for a while.
He said: “There were six or seven staff who were unable to complete their duty because they had been given extra work but didn’t have enough time to do it.
“They were then suspended and taken off their deliveries by the management on Thursday morning.
“Other staff at the office caught wind off this and walked out.”
The office’s safety representative Richard Harrington confirmed about 70 staff were involved.
“We have come out because six postmen were suspended from their deliveries,” he said.
“We are going to negotiate over what is going to happen to them.”
A postman who did not want to be named added: “If there wasn’t an overtime ban then people would get their mail on time but it stays at the depot. It’s counting the pennies but losing the pound.”
Another added that there is constant pressure from managers.
“The postmen have to complete their deliveries or they will be suspended,” he said.
“It compromises their safety because they have to get it done. Anything could happen to them if they’re rushing.
“People went in with legitimate answers and the bosses still suspended them.”
Royal Mail spokesman Sally Hopkins apologised to customers. All staff returned to work on Friday morning.