More on the Belfast post strike posted by bat020

Over 3,000 people took to the streets of Belfast on Tuesday of this week in support of an unofficial strike by 800 postal workers. They have been out on strike for over two weeks against management harassment. The strike has united workers from the Catholic and Protestant communities.

The march was led off by black taxis from the Falls and Shankill roads. People lined the streets and cheered as a sea of orange jackets marched to the City Hall. There is a deep anger among post workers over the bullying.

Luke, a postal worker from Mallusk, said, “In one case, a worker was receiving chemotherapy, and was continuously harassed over his attendance. In another case a worker had a brain haemorrhage and on returning to work was given a written warning.”

Ann works in Tomb Street. She told Socialist Worker, “Management claim there are no outstanding bullying cases. But I put in a case in January over a manager abusing me over a long period of time. This has just been filed as a grievance.”

On 3 October, not only did 2,000 relief workers refuse to work, but 20,000 joined them on the demonstration through the Falls and the Shankill roads that finished outside the Custom House. Bands from both communities came on the march. The only neutral tune both sides knew was “Yes We Have No Bananas”. As the march went through the Falls and Shankill the tune was played again and again.