BRISTOL POSTIES HAVE voted for strike action over the Christmas period in response to a pattern of bullying delivered by their bosses. Issues started around a year ago, when managers introduced a new delivery system, making it nearly impossible for most posties to carry out their rounds in time. Despite the problems arising from management incompetence, the majority of posties in Bristol’s southeast delivery office have repeatedly found themselves facing harassment when they cannot complete deliveries within the new time frame. Bob Gibson, a C.W.U. official representing post workers, highlighted that the problem is not just a local one, saying “Some of what I’ve been hearing from several areas around the country seems quite sinister in its application and can only be described as bullying, harassment and downright intimidation. This is a situation we cannot allow to continue”. With the workers holding massive gate meetings in the run-up to and during the ballot, the 80% ‘yes’ vote for strike action didn’t come as much surprise. We know it’s always a pain in the arse to have mail delayed, especially when it’s yer X-mas edition of the Mutineer, but let’s remember to put the blame where it belongs – scummy bosses (let’s face it, we all know at least one) – and get behind our posties, who are not only fighting for their own right to be free of intimidation in the workplace, but for a postal service that works for us all.
And on Monday 10th, the strikers struck. It may have been freezing cold, but that did not deter the 40 posties who showed up outside the sorting office gates to show their anger at the bosses’ poor decision-making. As a result of the picket, 200 management staff from the across the country were brought in as scab labour, to do a job that 100 are expected to do (no need to point out the obvious hypocrisy there). Members from the local I.W.W. branch and other activist organisations came in support, and delivered refreshments in solidarity.
This is only the beginning of what could potentially be an ongoing strike with another strike being held for this coming Monday and possibly continuing onto the new year. There is also a chance of this dispute going beyond the city of Bristol into the other regions of the westcountry.
