This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7037052.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Wildcat strikes plague Royal Mail Brown urges end of postal strikes
(about 4 hours later)
Wildcat postal strikes have persisted despite the end of an official 48-hour Royal Mail walkout. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged postal workers to end strike action over pay and jobs, saying there was "no justification" for them to continue.
Up to 130,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members were due to return to work on Wednesday after the latest strike, which has disrupted services. Most of the strikers returned to work on Wednesday at the end of a second 48-hour walkout in less than a week.
But many were outraged to discover that the times of their attendance had been changed without their consent. But Royal Mail confirmed there had been some unofficial strike action in London and Liverpool.
Royal Mail have confirmed unofficial strike action is taking place in Liverpool and London. Mr Brown said the dispute "should be brought to an end on the terms that have been offered as soon as possible".
Some of the returning workers were outraged to discover that the times of their attendance had been changed without their consent.
The firm said it was "extremely concerned at the unlawful unofficial strike action taking place at a handful of sites".The firm said it was "extremely concerned at the unlawful unofficial strike action taking place at a handful of sites".
"Unlawful action is wholly unacceptable and must be condemned by the trade union," a Royal Mail spokesman said."Unlawful action is wholly unacceptable and must be condemned by the trade union," a Royal Mail spokesman said.
He added: "People at 99% of our workplaces have returned to work as scheduled."He added: "People at 99% of our workplaces have returned to work as scheduled."
Gordon Brown urged striking workers to return to work. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons he said that there was "no justification" for the dispute to continue.
But postal workers have criticised the government, the Royal Mail's main shareholder, for not stepping in and helping to resolve the problems at stake.But postal workers have criticised the government, the Royal Mail's main shareholder, for not stepping in and helping to resolve the problems at stake.
Unofficial strikesUnofficial strikes
The unofficial stoppage was called at district offices throughout Liverpool and soon spread to the main sorting office at Copperas Hill, while workers at branches in east and south London also walked out.The unofficial stoppage was called at district offices throughout Liverpool and soon spread to the main sorting office at Copperas Hill, while workers at branches in east and south London also walked out.
Workers at the Victoria Road office in Glasgow walked out earlier, but have now resumed their duties. Workers at the Victoria Road office in Glasgow walked out, but later resumed their duties.
'SPANISH PRACTICES' Royal Mail accuses the union of wanting to preserve working practices such as: Automatic overtime pay if mail volumes reach a certain level regardless of how many working hours remain in the dayNo overlap between functions in the same workplaceCollection drivers can expect overtime pay for doing collections outside their route even if it is done within normal working hours Overtime pay to cover colleague absence or to help in the sorting office even if within normal workng hours Source: Royal Mail 'SPANISH PRACTICES' Royal Mail accuses the union of wanting to preserve working practices such as: Automatic overtime pay if mail volumes reach a certain level regardless of how many working hours remain in the dayNo overlap between functions in the same workplaceCollection drivers can expect overtime pay for doing collections outside their route even if it is done within normal working hours Overtime pay to cover colleague absence or to help in the sorting office even if within normal working hours Source: Royal Mail
Royal Mail worker David Wall, a postman with the Walton office in Liverpool, said hundreds of postal workers had gone back to the picket lines to protest against the changes to flexible working hours.Royal Mail worker David Wall, a postman with the Walton office in Liverpool, said hundreds of postal workers had gone back to the picket lines to protest against the changes to flexible working hours.
These included the end of the freedom to leave early once staff have finished their round.These included the end of the freedom to leave early once staff have finished their round.
He explained that the wildcat strikes were triggered by new Royal Mail rules, which they had not consented to, that prevented workers from starting work before 0600 BST and leaving before 1415 BST.He explained that the wildcat strikes were triggered by new Royal Mail rules, which they had not consented to, that prevented workers from starting work before 0600 BST and leaving before 1415 BST.
FlexibilityFlexibility
Historically, most postal workers begun their shift between 0500 BST and 0530 BST and were free to go when they had finished their round. Historically, most postal workers began their shift between 0500 BST and 0530 BST and were free to go when they had finished their round.
Mr Wall argued this loss of flexibility, and not pay, was the reason why he was on strike and said that he believed that was the case for most of his Royal Mail colleagues. Mr Wall argued this loss of flexibility, and not pay, was the reason he was on strike and said that he believed that was the case for most of his Royal Mail colleagues.
"The current Royal Mail management introduced this concept of flexibility when they were appointed," said Mr Wall."The current Royal Mail management introduced this concept of flexibility when they were appointed," said Mr Wall.
"Now, they are taking it away, claiming it is because they need to modernise and save money, yet there is no sign that their bonuses have been cut.""Now, they are taking it away, claiming it is because they need to modernise and save money, yet there is no sign that their bonuses have been cut."
Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier agreed that the main sticking point is flexibility.
But in an interview with BBC Radio 4 Today's programme on Tuesday he said that it was union members who needed to be more flexible and realise that the company's so-called "Spanish practices" were unsustainable and abandoned by most British firms in the 1970s.
These include workers being able to demand a minimum daily overtime of between two and three hours even if 30 minutes actual work is required.
They also allow for overtime pay to be claimed if a delivery round is finished early but the employee is needed to cover a colleague's absence within paid working hours.
Mr Crozier said that before he took the helm there were 1,442 such working practices at the firm, but these had so far been whittled down to 92.
Have you been caught up in events? Do you have any pictures of the strike action and its effects? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.Have you been caught up in events? Do you have any pictures of the strike action and its effects? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124.You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124.
Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
NameName