NO MAIL deliveries will be made in West Lothian tomorrow (Friday) as county postal workers were set to join the national strike over Royal Mail's modernisation plans.
If the strike goes ahead, up to 250 workers based in delivery offices in Bathgate, Livingston, Lin
lithgow and Bo'ness could walk out from 9pm tonight for 24 hours, meaning no letters will be delivered to homes or businesses, or collected, during that time.
Royal Mail workers, including delivery drivers, at mail centres, network distribution centre and collection hubs across the country are also set to strike today, but this will have little impact in West Lothian.
Mail deliveries should get back to normal on Saturday, but there are many issues at stake for both sides.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) say Royal Mail has broken its promise to implement phase four of the pay and modernisation agreement from 2007 after the first three phases were brought in.
The agreement included a shorter working week for posties, a "simplified" pay packet and a better working environment, with newer machines in centres.
This was to be jointly agreed by both sides, but the CWU accuse Royal Mail – which says deliveries are down due to the recession and modern communications – of "moving away from it" through its proposals.
CWU area delivery representative for Lothian and Borders, Kenny Logan, said postal workers are also angry that Royal Mail made a profit of £321 million last year and bosses gave themselves big bonuses.
He said: "Royal Mail want to impose a wage freeze and is using the recession as an excuse for this. Where are the figures showing a decrease in mail volume, because the people in the delivery offices don't see it?
"There has been a complete deterioration in services and people in West Lothian will have noticed this already in Saturday deliveries.
"Senior directors were paid £10m on the back of Royal Mail's profits. It was the people who made this profit. It's despicable. We are all for modernising the business and accept that there will be job losses and the union has put forward a blueprint for this."
Royal Mail's managing director Mark Higson called the strike an "appalling and unjustified" attack on customers, which showed a reckless disregard for everyone who depends on the company.
"Customers large and small have been hoping the CWU would lift the strike threats and focus on providing the service they need and want - instead the union has given them a slap in the face," said Mr Higson.
A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "Unfortunately it is likely that there will be severe disruption to delivery services on Friday if the CWU's strike action goes ahead but talks continue.
"The strikes may cause delays, although we will do everything we can to keep these to an absolute minimum. We'll continue to prioritise the delivery of Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked items, but can't guarantee these services on strike days."
