DUMBARTON’S constituency MSP has given her backing to postal staff who are striking over pay and conditions.

Jackie Baillie attended the picket line at the Royal Mail's Alexandria sorting office on Friday (September 30), joining members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) on their latest day of industrial action.

Further strikes are set to hit before the end of the year if the dispute is not resolved.

CWU members are striking after being handed a two per cent increase while inflation is 10 per cent and facing changes to their working conditions – including mandatory Sunday working.

Ms Baillie said: “I was pleased to support our local posties by joining the picket at Alexandria sorting office despite the wild weather on Friday morning.

“The postal staff were in good spirits as they rightly fight for a pay rise more in line with the rate of inflation as costs are increasing across the board.

“These hard-working people continued in their daily duties throughout the pandemic and kept the spirits up among many local people. They deserve much more than a derisory two percent increase and unfair changes to working conditions.

“I fully back them and hope that Royal Mail bosses can get round the table, listen to their demands and reach a settlement sooner rather than later.”

Fed up

Kenny Paton, the local representative of the CWU, said: “Nobody wants to go on strike, but we were offered two percent which in the current circumstances isn’t good enough. People are getting fed up with the pay rates.

“Our union is not against change. We have moved from two deliveries to one delivery, from letters to parcels.

"Our union has never walked away from change but they are planning to bring in a two-tier workforce, paying some people less than others when they are doing the same job and enforcing Sunday working with no enhanced pay. That is why we are striking.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “The CWU can be in no doubt of the impact its reckless pursuit of 19 days of industrial action has on our weakened financial position and the job security of its members.

“Royal Mail is losing £1 million a day. We operate in a competitive market, and our customers have choices. Continued strike action will force our customers to make those choices sooner rather than later.

“Our invitation to enter into talks through Acas [the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service] remains open.

"Our people need the CWU leadership to recognise the reality of the situation Royal Mail faces as a business, and to engage urgently on the changes required to adapt to customer demands in a highly competitive market.

“We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU’s continued strike action will cause.

“We are doing all we can to minimise any delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.”