Postal workers say there has been a good show of support as they take the first of four days of strike action today (August 26).
The strike , initiated by the Communication Workers Union (CWU, is due to a dispute over pay and pensions.
There is also anger at changes to hours including later starts and working some Sundays, reductions to sick pay and the cutting of some allowances.
In Ramsgate a large number of staff and supporters have been manning the picket line outside the sorting office in Wilfred Road – including one postman who has just got married and brought wedding cake for his colleagues!
Depots at Margate and Broadstairs were shut although staff at Broadstairs were outside their office as part of the industrial action.
Broadstairs postman Ralph Lowdon was one of those to show support for the strike.
Ralph, 63, began his career as a telegram boy aged 16 in London, before returning to Thanet and buying the Curzon Hotel in Broadstairs and then going back to Royal Mail some 21 years ago.
He said: “It is about the wages and the changes to hours. We used to start at 4am and then it got pushed to 7am and now they are looking at 8/9/10am with a 6pm finish which affects the guys who pick up their kids from school.
“They are just changing and killing the job. During covid we were always there, out on the street, and people appreciated what we were doing. But the way they are changing things we won’t even have time to say hello to people.
“The wages are the main thing and I have been explaining it to people. Hopefully with the Christmas pressure coming soon management will get this sorted out. The support has been really good.”
Royal Mail says an offer of up to 5.5% has been made despite company losses of £1m per day but the CWU says this is a 2% pay award without agreement plus 1.5% based on signing away terms and conditions and a £500 bonus for targets that are not achievable.
Across the country some 115,000 postal workers are taking part in the strikes after some 97% of those balloted voted in favour of the action.
Further strike action is due to take place on 31 August and the 8 and 9 September.
Royal Mail says: “Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but they cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce. We will be doing what we can to keep services running, but customers should expect significant disruption.”
