 WILDCAT strikes spread through Liverpool’s postal service today after a peace deal was rejected. Some 600 postal workers across the city staged unofficial walkouts yesterday in protest at a change in working hours. They were due to return to work after two 48-hour official stoppages linked to the ongoing wage and working conditions dispute. But the postal workers said when they arrived at work they were told starting and finishing times had been moved back by an hour. Liverpool, Glasgow and London were affected by the stoppages. Workers at seven Liverpool delivery offices, including the main Copperas Hill site, were involved in the unofficial dispute. Despite talks between the two sides yesterday, the stand-off remains and more offices were affected today. Mick Yarwood, area delivery representative for the Communication Workers’ Union, said: “We had a second round of talks with management yesterday afternoon. “They said they would discuss our proposals that could resolve the situation. “They didn’t get back to us and I had to phone them at 8.30pm last night, when they turned down our proposals.” Mr Yarwood said the sticking point was Saturday working. He said staff usually finished between 10.30 and 11am on Saturday but bosses are insisting they must work until 1pm – something the union claims breaches an existing agreement. Mr Yarwood said: “We are hoping to talk as soon as we can get in again. More offices are out today.” A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We understand Garston and Mossley Hill are out now. We will be trying to get as much mail out as we can.” He said new talks aimed at resolving the issue could take place today. “We were talking on and off yesterday and we will continue to talk,” he added. More one-day strikes targeting different areas of the postal service are planned for next week.
READ more news from the Liverpool Echo
| 
News RSS Feed