Postal workers took to the picket line today over pay and working conditions.
Over 20 posties protested outside Chipping Norton Delivery Office on Thursday morning joined by Andy Hopping, vice chair of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) South Central Postal Branch.
An elected member of the CWU National Postal Executive Committee, Mr Hopping delivered a speech to the crowd, in which he confirmed that the announcement of strike dates up until December had brought Royal Mail senior management to the negotiating table.
He continued, thanking CWU members for standing firm and urging them to stay strong and maintain solidarity which he believes is vital to winning the current dispute.
Across the UK, the CWU’s 115,000 members took part in the stoppage, which is described as the largest strike in a year.
The union has accused Royal Mail of planning structural change that would effectively see employees in secure, well-paid jobs turned into a “casualised, financially precarious workforce overnight”.
“Postal workers face the biggest ever assault on their jobs, terms and conditions in the history of Royal Mail,” said CWU general secretary Dave Ward.
In Chipping Norton, passing BT Openreach workers, delivery drivers and members of the public tooted their horns in support.
Joining the postal workers was town councillor Steve Akers and Sharon Akers, a member of the Branch Committee of UNISON Oxon Health Services Branch, which recently donated £3000 to CWU South Central Postal Branch strike hardship fund.
Councillor Akers, a member of Oxford & District TUC Strike Support Committee, announced the coming TUC lobby of Parliament over the cost-of-living Crisis on November 2.
He also called for support for the forthcoming national demonstration called by the CWU, RMT, Unite, PCS, and other trade union and campaigning organisations on November 5 which will see people affected by the cost-of-living crisis to take to the streets of London.
The next national CWU national strike dates in Royal Mail Group are on Thursday October 20 and Tuesday 25.
Chipping Norton postal workers will once again be back on the line at the Delivery Office on Station Road.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here