POSTIES in Huddersfield have vowed to make official complaints of bullying against Royal Mail bosses.
The 11 staff at the Northumberland Street delivery office claim they were pressured into doing extra work.
As part of a national drive to improve the organisation’s efficiency, delivery workers were asked on Tuesday to cover part of another route in addition to their own.
Jason White, representative for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), said there had not been enough consultation beforehand and the group took a vote to refuse the instruction.
He said they were then told they would be sent home without pay and were effectively threatened with the sack for refusing a reasonable instruction.
He said: “They didn’t give people any notice, they just basically said: ‘It’s happening, like it or lump it.’
“The workers hadn’t had any training or preparation.
“We took a vote and decided to refuse the order, but the management said if they went through with it they would have to go home and would no longer be employed by Royal Mail.
“There’s no problem with the idea in principle, but the way it was handled was unreasonable.
“Eleven people are putting in bullying and harassment complaints on the grounds they were intimidated into accepting change by being told if they didn’t comply they would be sent home.”
But Bob Hulme, area delivery representative for the CWU, said the new arrangements had been agreed with the union on a national level.
He said: “Unfortunately Huddersfield aren’t doing it at the moment, but there is a national agreement. As long as it doesn’t impact on their own deliveries, they are expected to do it.”
A Royal Mail spokesman added: “In autumn 2007 Royal Mail agreed a wide-ranging deal with the CWU covering modern, flexible working arrangements and the deal was subsequently endorsed in a national ballot.
“The reorganisation of workload at delivery offices is part of the flexibility agreement and realigns staff resource to ensure customers receive a good service.”
