The possibility of a postal strike at Christmas is looming - after posties voted unanimously to ballot for industrial action.

Communication Workers’ Union boss Terry Pullinger said following the vote at a mass meeting of members on Sunday: ’We don’t want to hurt the public and it depends on how the management and government respond.

’It’s not too late to avert a strike. But if there is industrial action in November and it’s prolonged then there’s every chance there will be strike at Christmas.

’No one wants to go on strike. People don’t do this for fun. This is not a bunch of people who are always willing to go on strike. But members are willing to fight this,’ he said.

The vote follows the break-down of talks between management and unions over proposed cuts to pay and terms and conditions.

Postal workers had initially been offered a £250, non-consolidated, lump sum payment. The offer was then improved to a 1% increase.

But union members are railing at the suggestion that posties are overpaid.

Management is proposing a new grade for new starters who will begin on £18,000 a year with an upper limit at £22,000. At present new starters get £26,000. Another proposal will see the final salary pension scheme closed to new members.

Isle of Man Post Office, which made a loss this year for the first time in its history, had drawn up five year plan to modernise the service.

proposals

It has been consulting on proposals to reduce the number of collection days, cut post office hours and branches and increase postal charges.

Mr Pullinger, who is deputy general secretary postal of the CWU, said the turn-out among the union’s 250 or so Post Office members was high for Sunday’s meeting at the Sefton Hotel’s Garden Room.

’People are genuinely hurt and certainly angry,’ he said. ’These are unprecedented attacks on sick pay, allowances and rates of pay.’

As well as voting to have a ballot for strike action, CWU members also gave a unanimous vote of no confidence in the Post Office board.

He said members were ’insulted’ that a new board had come in and deemed that posties were overpaid.

Mr Pullinger said he had worked with Isle of Man Post Office boards for 17 years and this was the ’worst I’ve known’.

’This is a new crowd who have been hand-picked to this job of massive cuts for no other reason than to reduce head count and reduced costs. ’I’ve never seen such a vicious attack,’ he said.

He added: ’There will always be members of the public who are opposed to people defending themselves.

’But as the debate gathers momentum and profile, the public will be in a far better position to make a judgement.

’This is a defence of ourselves but also a defence of your excellent public service.’

Post Office chairman Julie Edge said it was disappointing the CWU planned to ballot its members on the proposed pay and pension reforms.

She said: ’The difficult circumstances associated with the business being loss-making means we must implement financially responsible changes to ensure the future prosperity of the business for all. We appreciate change is never easy for our staff and we remain committed to keeping them up-to-date with developments as and when there is news.

’It is in all our best interests to conclude on negotiations in a timely manner and wherever possible by agreement.’