Posties on picket line for first day of strike

Two sides remain defiant as deadlock continues

Postal workers are on strike today as they carry out the first of two days of industrial action.

It's after the Communications Workers' Union and the Post Office failed to reach an agreement over planned changes to the conditions of employment.

Talks ended in deadlock on Wednesday night, with Deputy General Secretary of the CWU, Terry Pullinger, voicing the frustrations of the staff.

"We would never ever recommend people going out on strike and losing money themselves at this time of year" he insisted.

Mr Pullinger added "that really is a measure of how serious things are."

Dialogue will continue for a resolution to the dispute today, with hopes staff will be back in work tomorrow.

Neither side backing down

Post Office Chair, Julie Edge, doesn't seem to be backing down either, however.

Speaking on Manx Radio's Mandate on Thursday morning, she told Islanders "[the CWU] has not proposed any workable alternative that would make a material impact on improving our financial position."

She was backed up by Treasury Minister, Alfred Cannan, who defended the changes being proposed.

"The Post Office sales are declining, their costs are rising, their pension is looking increasingly unsustainable, and the board and management are taking steps that any business would take in these circumstances.

"This is not being done to attack workers, this is being done to protect workers and their jobs and the business for as long as possible into the future", said Mr Cannan. 

But the CWU members on strike are critical of the way negotiations have been handled.

🎥 WATCH & SHARE DSGP Terry Pullinger direct from the Isle of Man picket lines this morning. Terrific turnout and rock solid support #FightingForTheFuture 💪 pic.twitter.com/8i3NDwCAie

— The CWU (@CWUnews) December 13, 2018

These workers on the picket line feel they're not valued: