‘Junk mail’ will not be delivered (From York Press)

‘Junk mail’ will not be delivered

12:00pm Friday 28th September 2007 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

HOUSEHOLDERS across York and North Yorkshire could see a dramatic drop in the amount of "junk mail" posted through their letter boxes over coming weeks.

Posties have been told they will not be delivering any unsolicited mail over the next three weeks, a union leader claimed today.

Paul Clays, the York-based regional secretary of the Communication Workers' Union, said workers had been told of the move by management during a staff briefing yesterday.

He said it was a response to union plans to stage two 48-hour strikes over the next fortnight in pursuit of a grievance over pay and conditions.

But he claimed management rather than unions were to blame for the decision. He said postal workers were quite prepared to deliver unsolicited mail, and it was the Royal Mail which had decided to suspend the service after repeatedly talking about the importance of retaining business.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman confirmed the industrial action could lead to fewer unsolicited deliveries.

"The CWU's strike action, which is designed to damage Royal Mail, its customers and its people, will make it impossible for us to deliver the services normally to our customers," said a spokeswoman.

"We are taking steps now to give customers in the fully competitive door-to-door market the opportunity to change their mailing plans or, if necessary, make alternative arrangements."

Postal workers have been involved in weeks of industrial action over a 2.5 per cent pay offer and modernisation plans, which they claim will put about 40,000 jobs at risk.

Fresh action was called earlier this month after talks with the company broke down.

The first 48-hour strike will start next Friday and the second on the following Monday.