Dave Chapple-CWU shop steward |
The Bridgwater 48-hour wildcat strike ended successfully this
morning at 6am, with an overwhelming vote by CWU members to endorse shop
steward Dave Chapple's recommendation to return on the following terms:
1. The suspended postman would be returned to work immediately with any disciplinary investigations completed within 48 hours.
2.
National talks would begin covering all major industrial relations
problems at Bridgwater Delivery Office, including CWU concerns of
heavy-handed management, breaking agreements with the CWU, un-agreed
cuts in hours, and hospital
appointments.
Sunday's talks, involving
CWU acting Deputy General Secretary Ray Ellis and national officer Bob
Gibson, finally broke through Royal Mail's previously aggressive stance,
and paved the way to get the suspended postman back to work without the
threat of recriminations against any CWU members for taking part in the
walkout.
Dave Wilshire, Bristol CWU Branch Secretary, said:
"Royal
Mail can say what it likes but the fact is they would not talk to us
about lifting this suspension until the strike went into it's second
day: that's a fact.
However, to be
positive, It is good to hear from Dave Chapple at Bridgwater Delivery
Office that the return to work today is proceeding smoothly without
major problems. This is a major Royal Mail turnaround from last Friday,
when it looked like we might be out on strike for a week or
more.
Our suspended CWU member will return to
work today with the threat of serious disciplinary action removed: the
other issues members were on strike about should now be addressed.
The
tremendous solidarity shown once again by 110 Bridgwater postal workers
has, we believe, forced Royal Mail to show some common sense: we hope
this approach continues!"
Dave Wilshire,
Branch Secretary
07909 525 740
07909 525 740
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