Post delayed by wildcat strikes (From Witney Gazette)

Post delayed by wildcat strikes

1:27pm Wednesday 12th July 2006 in Witney

MAIL deliveries across West Oxfordshire have been thrown into chaos after postmen walked out of two delivery offices on wildcat strikes.

Thousands of items of post have been stacking up at Royal Mail delivery depots in Witney and Carterton since the first of more than 100 postmen began unofficial strikes on Thursday.

Royal Mail has drafted in managers to carry out deliveries, but thousands of homes across the district have not received any post since the end of last week.

National Communication Workers Union representatives were due to join Oxfordshire union representatives yesterday afternoon to continue talks with managers to try to break the deadlock.

But postmen warned that even if the strikes were to be abandoned, it would still take until at least the end of the week to clear the backlog.

The first of two strikes started in Carterton and the situation escalated on Friday when workers in Witney walked out over a separate dispute.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said managers were doing their best to minimise disruption to customers and sort out the disputes.

He confirmed action had been sparked over a "conduct case" in Carterton and an "attendance case involving one employee" in Witney, but could not discuss details of either case.

He said: "Talks to resolve the unofficial industrial action at the Royal Mail Carterton and Witney Delivery Offices continue. Managers have been drafted in to both areas and we are delivering as much mail as possible.

"We would like to apologise for the disruption caused to our customers but reassure them we are doing everything possible to resolve the disputes quickly."