Postal Workers – Support for Belfast strike
WORKERS, MAR 2006 ISSUE
Belfast Trades Council organised a rally in the City Centre on 14 February in support of 800 postal workers on strike for more than two weeks.
The dispute started after trade union officials investigating claims of management harassment and bullying were threatened with disciplinary action if they did not stop their investigation. This led to an immediate walk-out by workers in the depots concerned to protect their union, the CWU.
Management at first refused to discuss the issues raised by what they considered an "illegal strike" but had to climb down in the face of workers who would not to go back to work until their concerns were acknowledged and addressed.
Workers saw the recalcitrance and strike breaking actions of Post Office management as a first step to breaking trade union solidarity in order to introduce changes in working conditions.
The CWU has demanded an independent inquiry into working practices at the depots concerned and for no victimisation of local shop stewards. The lack of any substantial movement indicates that the Post Office sees the dispute in wider terms and feels that it can take on the union as the dispute remains unofficial and the workers without strike pay.
The rally, preceded by a march throughout much of West Belfast led by two Lambeg drums adorned with trade union banners, was supported by CWU delegates from England, Wales and Scotland, and postal workers from the Republic of Ireland. Speaker after speaker condemned the existence of anti-trade union legislation and the Labour Government which has failed to repeal them.
As Workers goes to press indications are that the dispute will end with all the demands of the CWU met in full.