| LOCAL POSTIES GET THE SACK |
| Wednesday, 17 June 2009 | |
 Local MP John Pugh is enquiring into why so many local postmen have been subjected to disciplinary treatment and are at risk of losing their jobs.
“I have been secretly shown a frighteningly long list containing the names of scores of local postmen, who have been disciplined by the Royal Mail for what look like very trivial things. “However when I have asked for the numbers of people disciplined from Royal Mail management themselves, I have been told that I cannot have it due to the Data Protection Act. “This kind of response backs up suspicions that the Royal Mail has something to hide, and that there may be substance in union claims that Royal Mail top brass are happy to pick fights and shed experienced staff in order to get costs down before privatisation.” John Pugh, who opposes the proposed part-privatisation of Royal Mail, revealed that there are cases of local postmen facing the sack for not having their cycle helmet on when moving from house to house. He commented: “The only one at risk is the postman himself – so why is Royal Mail threatening disciplinary action? Furthermore, this sort of action is not even consistent within Royal Mail. Behaviour that is tolerated in one area may be the subject of disciplinary action in Southport. “I understand that in times of change there will be friction, but the unwillingness of the Royal Mail to provide statistics on the number of disciplinary actions and the reasons for them will only fuel conspiracy theories. If it’s not about replacing full time staff with casual labour and reducing the huge pension bill, there's really no good reason for Royal Mail not to be open about its activities.” |