North London Posties to strike

LONDON FACES POSTAL STRIKE

PRES RELEASE

N/NW LONDON FACES POSTAL STRIKE OVER 'UNFAIRLY DISMISSED DOHERTY BROTHERS

9 January 2002

Tomorrow N/NW London CWU will serve 7 days notice on Consignia (The Post Office) of their intention to ballot its membership over Consignias refusal to reinstate Mick (N/NW London CWU branch chairman) and Tom Doherty. Both brothers were unanimously successful in proving unfair dismissals against The Post Office at respective well publicised Employment Tribunals, after they were sacked for alleged involvement in football violence (all allegations were later proven to be false). Then at the respective Tribunal remedies hearings The Post Office were ordered to reinstate both brothers to their former jobs.

However in both cases The Post Office have refused to comply with the Tribunals orders, in Micks case they intially agreed at the hearing but reneged on the agreement just days later -- without giving a legitimate reason for such a U-turn!

This makes a mockery of the whole Employment Tribunal process, does it mean that all postal workers are exempt from the opportunity to receive 'natural justice if they are unfairly dismissed?

Members of the N/NW London CWU are disgusted at the treatment of the Doherty brothers by Post Office management, especially when their Tribunals exonerated them of any wrong doing and were highly critical of Post Office managers in their handling of both cases.

It is a national disgrace that a major public sector employer, such as The Post Office are refusing to abide by the decisions and orders of the governments employment arbitration body (Employment Tribunals). The CWU are seeking a change in the law making the decisions of Employment tribunals legally binding.

For further details contact:

Peter Donaghy (N/NW London CWU Branch Secretary) Tel: 0207 239 3477
Mick Doherty Tel: 07950 267906