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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Postal staff strike hits Scotland | Postal staff strike hits Scotland |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of postal workers in Scotland have walked out in support of a national strike over jobs, pay and modernisation. | Thousands of postal workers in Scotland have walked out in support of a national strike over jobs, pay and modernisation. |
| The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that 3,382 workers were on strike in Scotland in centres in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Wishaw and Perth. | The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that 3,382 workers were on strike in Scotland in centres in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Wishaw and Perth. |
| Across the UK, up to 42,000 staff and network drivers launched a 24 hour strike. | Across the UK, up to 42,000 staff and network drivers launched a 24 hour strike. |
| About 78,000 delivery and collection workers are due to walk out on Friday. | About 78,000 delivery and collection workers are due to walk out on Friday. |
| At Scotland's biggest sorting office, in the Springburn area of Glasgow, about 30 postal workers were gathered on the picket line with CWU flags. | |
| Posters with the words "CWU, Official dispute: defend postal services" were attached to the wire fence at the centre on Turner Road. | Posters with the words "CWU, Official dispute: defend postal services" were attached to the wire fence at the centre on Turner Road. |
| Our focus at the moment is about minimising disruption and ensuring that we do all we can to to help customers in Scotland process their mail today Alan GairnsRoyal Mail | Our focus at the moment is about minimising disruption and ensuring that we do all we can to to help customers in Scotland process their mail today Alan GairnsRoyal Mail |
| Father-of-one Stephen Millrine, who has worked for Royal Mail for 20 years, said there was "100% support" for the action. | Father-of-one Stephen Millrine, who has worked for Royal Mail for 20 years, said there was "100% support" for the action. |
| He said: "Staff are irate. They've seen the business getting smashed. Second collections gone away, Sunday delivery has gone away. | He said: "Staff are irate. They've seen the business getting smashed. Second collections gone away, Sunday delivery has gone away. |
| "We don't want to affect the public. We apologise for this, it's the last option left open to this." | "We don't want to affect the public. We apologise for this, it's the last option left open to this." |
| Another worker, Iain Johnston, explained why he was on strike. He said: "It is to protect the future of this industry because we just see constant attacks on post men and constant attacks on this service by Royal Mail management." | |
| Jim McKechnie, branch secretary of the Glasgow and district branch of the CWU, who has worked for Royal Mail for 22 years, said: "It's a worrying time. The last thing we want is people losing pay, particularly at this time of year. | Jim McKechnie, branch secretary of the Glasgow and district branch of the CWU, who has worked for Royal Mail for 22 years, said: "It's a worrying time. The last thing we want is people losing pay, particularly at this time of year. |
| STORY SO FAR... Postal workers, especially in London, have been holding intermittent one-day strikes for months in a row over the way Royal Mail is to be modernisedEarlier this month, postal workers voted three to one in favour of nationwide industrial action (though Royal Mail said 60% of the total number of postal workers in the UK did not vote to strike)The CWU set dates for the first nationwide postal strikes in two yearsLast-gasp talks failed to reach an agreement and indeed the split between the union and Royal Mail management became more acrimonious Q&A: Royal Mail dispute Royal Mail's one-man competitor | STORY SO FAR... Postal workers, especially in London, have been holding intermittent one-day strikes for months in a row over the way Royal Mail is to be modernisedEarlier this month, postal workers voted three to one in favour of nationwide industrial action (though Royal Mail said 60% of the total number of postal workers in the UK did not vote to strike)The CWU set dates for the first nationwide postal strikes in two yearsLast-gasp talks failed to reach an agreement and indeed the split between the union and Royal Mail management became more acrimonious Q&A: Royal Mail dispute Royal Mail's one-man competitor |
| "We would rather we weren't taking this action but we don't have any other choice. | "We would rather we weren't taking this action but we don't have any other choice. |
| "People have got to get their heads together and get this resolved." | "People have got to get their heads together and get this resolved." |
| General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Grahame Smith said: "The STUC gives its full support to the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in this dispute. | General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Grahame Smith said: "The STUC gives its full support to the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in this dispute. |
| "The strike is the inevitable consequence of Royal Mail management's refusal to consult, negotiate and agree a change package. It is not, as is widely and misleadingly reported, attributable to a failure of the CWU to address workplace 'modernisation'. | "The strike is the inevitable consequence of Royal Mail management's refusal to consult, negotiate and agree a change package. It is not, as is widely and misleadingly reported, attributable to a failure of the CWU to address workplace 'modernisation'. |
| "The CWU has, once again, stated its offer of third party mediation without any preconditions facilitated by Acas. Royal Mail management should accept this offer in good faith and move to mediation as quickly as possible." | "The CWU has, once again, stated its offer of third party mediation without any preconditions facilitated by Acas. Royal Mail management should accept this offer in good faith and move to mediation as quickly as possible." |
| Royal Mail said there would be fewer collections than usual in Scotland, though there would still be collections from all large customers, post offices and boxes outside post offices. | Royal Mail said there would be fewer collections than usual in Scotland, though there would still be collections from all large customers, post offices and boxes outside post offices. |
| 'Post early' | 'Post early' |
| Managers were working as drivers and in the mail centres to keep the post moving. | Managers were working as drivers and in the mail centres to keep the post moving. |
| A Royal Mail spokeswoman advised people to post mail as early as possible, but said that deliveries were being made as usual. | A Royal Mail spokeswoman advised people to post mail as early as possible, but said that deliveries were being made as usual. |
| Alan Gairns, a Royal Mail director in Scotland, insisted the country's 13,000 staff did not want a strike and warned industrial action was harming the business. | Alan Gairns, a Royal Mail director in Scotland, insisted the country's 13,000 staff did not want a strike and warned industrial action was harming the business. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYWe as the tax payers should no longer support the Royal MailKaren, Edinburgh Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYWe as the tax payers should no longer support the Royal MailKaren, Edinburgh Send us your comments |
| He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Our focus at the moment is about minimising disruption and ensuring that we do all we can to help customers in Scotland process their mail today. | He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Our focus at the moment is about minimising disruption and ensuring that we do all we can to help customers in Scotland process their mail today. |
| "We have contingency arrangements in place and I think it's important to note at the moment our post offices are open and are accepting mail." | "We have contingency arrangements in place and I think it's important to note at the moment our post offices are open and are accepting mail." |
| Mr Gairns said he was disappointed in the union's action and added: "In Scotland we have about 13,000 post men and women who work for Royal Mail. | Mr Gairns said he was disappointed in the union's action and added: "In Scotland we have about 13,000 post men and women who work for Royal Mail. |
| "They're extremely proud and passionate about the service we provide and they don't want a strike." | "They're extremely proud and passionate about the service we provide and they don't want a strike." |
| He urged the union to accept "modernisation" and call off the "unnecessary strike". | He urged the union to accept "modernisation" and call off the "unnecessary strike". |
| Postmen on the picket line in Aberdeen said: "The strike will drive customers away temporarily obviously, but what people fail to realise is that even though they use other couriers it is the Royal Mail postie who does what we call the final mile." | Postmen on the picket line in Aberdeen said: "The strike will drive customers away temporarily obviously, but what people fail to realise is that even though they use other couriers it is the Royal Mail postie who does what we call the final mile." |
| Another postman added: "We apologise for the inconvenience, but unfortunately we've been pushed into this corner due to the fact no settlement has been agreed." | Another postman added: "We apologise for the inconvenience, but unfortunately we've been pushed into this corner due to the fact no settlement has been agreed." |