THE trade union supporting hard-working Royal Mail staff in Alloa disputes the company's position that “un-balloted industrial action” has taken place at the delivery office this week.

As reported earlier, staff at the Broad Street sorting and delivery office walked out on Monday over unsafe working conditions amid the coronavirus outbreak.

However,  Royal Mail chiefs claimed this action amounted to an unofficial strike.

That is being disputed by the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) in Scotland, which branded the company's position “shameful”.

Craig Anderson, regional secretary, told the Advertiser: “We don't regard what happened at Alloa as unofficial industrial action or as an 'un-balloted' industrial action.

“All employees should have the right to work in a workplace that conforms with the guidelines set out by both the UK and Scottish governments.

“The First Minister was quite clear last Thursday, on Scotland Tonight, when she said that if employers are unable to provide a safe working environment then as far as she is concerned, people shouldn't be at work.”

And the concerns go beyond the welfare of staff and their families, it is about the general public too.

Mr Anderson added: “We do deliver medical supplies, our delivery staff do check on vulnerable people, elderly people within the community to make sure they are ok.

“We will be dealing with the NHS Covid-19 testing kits as well, so as far as we are concerned, we need to have our key workers, our members, in a safe as possible environment, observing social distancing, having plenty of PPE (personal protective equipment); gloves and also hand sanitiser.

“It's to protect themselves, their families, but also members of the public.

“We can't have our members actually making this situation worse.”

Hard-working posties will be observing social distancing rules when out and about.

For instance, if a package does not fit through the letterbox, they will place it at the doorstep, knock and step back.

Mr Anderson is asking members of the public to be mindful of the two-metre gap as well.

As of yesterday (Wednesday, April 1) staff were back at work after the Royal Mail was forced to make some changes.

It is understood no further talks are expected at this stage with the CWU hopeful the measures put in place will provide a safe working environment, although junk mail remains an issue.

While Mr Anderson agrees there is some merit to delivering things such as vouchers for supermarkets, which people might very well find useful, there seems to be little point to putting leaflets through the door for businesses that have closed their doors in line with the lockdown measures.

The Scottish regional secretary said: “I believe these should be suspended during the Covid-19 outbreak, but quite clearly, there are some differences of opinion.

“There are some of these, not the majority, but some of these for example leaflets that are for food shops may be of benefit for people.”

He added: “During this time, the focus should be on safeguarding and looking after our community.

“We are not in any way, shape or form stepping outside or outwith what both the first minister and the prime minister has said.

“If we can't observe that social distancing then as far as we are concerned as an organisation, then it's not safe.

“And I think it's disrespectful for the company or the representative of the company to actually say it was unofficial industrial action.

“This wasn't done because of any of the grievances or issues that we have outstanding with the company, this is based on the safety of our members, the staff, their families and the wider public.

“I do think it's shameful it's been classed as unofficial or un-balloted industrial action.”

Yesterday, a Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Royal Mail takes the health and safety of its colleagues, its customers and the local communities in which we operate very seriously.”

Officials also said that some processes have been changed but argued: “Door-to-door mailings provide a very valuable service."

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Iain Smith
Regional Content Manager
Alloa Advertiser