Christmas post deliveries are being disrupted by strike action.
Posties in the Communication Workers Union (CWU) based in Dumfries, Lockerbie and Castle Douglas were back on the picket line this week as they continue their pay and conditions dispute with Royal Mail bosses.
Further strikes are planned for December 23 and 24 after the union claimed management refused to meet with them.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “Royal Mail bosses are risking a Christmas meltdown because of their stubborn refusal to treat their employees with respect.
“Postal workers want to get on with serving the communities they belong to, delivering Christmas gifts and tackling the backlog from recent weeks.
“But they know their value, and they will not meekly accept the casualisation of their jobs, the destruction of their conditions and the impoverishment of their families.
“This can be resolved if Royal Mail begin treating their workers with respect, and meet with the union to resolve this dispute.”
An improved pay offer, including a nine per cent pay increase, was put to the union last month. But they claimed it represented a “wholly inadequate, non-backdated 3.5 per cent pay increase”.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “The CWU is striking at our busiest time, deliberately holding Christmas to ransom for our customers, businesses and families across the country.
“We are doing everything we can to deliver Christmas for our customers, and would like to thank the increasing number of posties returning to work each strike day, temporary workers and managers from across the business who are helping to keep the mail moving.
“However, this task becomes more challenging as Christmas nears. Three weeks ago, we made a best and final pay offer worth up to nine per cent over 18 months.
“Instead of working with us to agree on changes required to fund that offer and get pay into our posties’ pockets, the CWU has announced plans to ballot in the New Year for further strike action.
Royal Mail is recommending people post first class items by today to give them the best chance of arriving before Christmas.
