Deliveries hit as postal dispute deepens
Local postal workers returned to their duties earlier this week after two 48-hour strikes, which ended in the early hours of Wednesday October 10.
Although some workers – including union members – had opted to attend work during the strike period, the majority of local postal staff had come out in support of the action called for by the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
Given that the latest industrial action would in effect result in no mail deliveries for almost one week, it ran the risk of damaging public sympathy for the CWU members’ cause. However, local staff reported that the Cowal community had gone out of its way to express its support.
“When I was doing my last delivery on Thursday, I apologised to all my residential customers,” said one local postman. “Every one of them said they were right behind us.”
“We can’t afford to lose wages every time we come out on strike – but neither can we afford to lose this dispute,” another worker said. “The pay issue is almost at the bottom of the priority list now – the other issues of our pensions and working conditions have become more important.”
Staff at the picket line outside Dunoon’s Royal Mail depot were issuing a CWU-generated “Message to the Public” leaflet (the arrival of which was ironically delayed by the postal strike!) This reiterates the reasons behind the CWU’s decision to take industrial action and urges supporters to write to local MPs to request their support.
Royal Mail wants to introduce a series of changes to postal services which it insists are essential for the future of the company, including deliveries and collections, and the administration of the company’s pension scheme among others. The CWU insists that this will result in a less reliable service and more post office closures, as well as adverse implications for staff in terms of working conditions.
A statement issued by Royal Mail on Wednesday said: “After lengthy negotiation we are very disappointed that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has announced more strike action starting on Monday 15th and ending on Friday 19th October. This action will take place at different Royal Mail sites across the country at different times. We are currently assessing the impact that this will have on services, and will communicate this as soon as possible.
“We can confirm that the latest round of strike action by members of the CWU ended in the early hours of Wednesday 10th October. Royal Mail regrets the impact of the strike action and apologises to its customers for the disruption this has caused.
“Whilst we are encouraged that increased numbers of operational staff are attending work and that managerial and support staff continue to keep mail flowing, the situation remains very serious and our ability to provide services remains extremely limited. We are very sorry that we have had to withdraw a number of service promises and guarantees, but we will reinstate these as soon as we are able to honour them.
“Special Delivery items are being delivered and some mail is flowing through the network, but we have a significant build-up of mail that will take time to clear when the strikes have finished.
“We would like to assure our customers that we are working hard to get mail through the system and delivered. We will do our best to return to normal as quickly as possible, and will deal with mail in the order in which we receive it. However customers should expect significant delays during and after the strike period.”
As the Observer went to press, the latest information from the CWU was confirmation of the next round of strike action: “CWU has today (Monday) served notice to Royal Mail for further strike action to take place next week unless an agreement is reached.
“This action will follow a programme of 24-hour functional strikes commencing Monday 15th October. This means Royal Mail will face a further week of continuous disruption to mail services and all postal staff will carry out one full day’s strike, as outlined below.
* Mail centres and airports – duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 18.00 Monday 15th October 2007 and before 18.00 Tuesday 16th October 2007.
* Deliveries and separate collection hubs – duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 03.00 Tuesday 16th October 2007 and before 03.00 Wednesday 17th October 2007.
* Network (drivers) – duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 12 noon Wednesday 17th October 2007 and before 12 noon Thursday 18th October 2007.
* MDECs (mechanised data entry centres) – duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 12 noon Thursday 18th October 2007 and before 12 noon Friday 19th October 2007.
* International/Heathrow World Distribution Centre – duties, scheduled attendance and overtime commencing at or after 14.00 Thursday 18th October 2007 and before 14.00 Friday 19th October 2007.
“Talks continue between CWU and Royal Mail.”
However the bitter dispute continued as Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier refuted CWU claims that Royal Mail staff are treated as “slaves”. Mr Crozier insisted that the company was simply trying to ensure that the company “can survive and prosper, and not for its own sake.”
“I doubt there is a company out there that does not ask its people to work all the hours they are paid for,” he said. “For the union not to accept that is not a tenable position. You cannot have that situation in the modern world.”
Dave Ward of the CWU responded to Mr Crozier’s comments by saying: “What Royal Mail has got at the moment is a dedicated, hard working and flexible workforce. To get their work done within their hours postal workers are carrying more mail than they should, not taking their breaks, and using their own cars to take mail out on deliveries. This all ensures flexibility for Royal Mail.
“Adam Crozier has not been involved in the recent talks and does not understand the specific issues around this deal. By driving through his idea of flexibility Royal Mail will lose the good faith of postal workers.”
Talks between both parties continue.


Strachur GP to Opt out
PATIENTS of Strachur Medical Practice were advised recently that Dr Robbie Coull of the practice had decided to opt out of providing out of normal hours emergency cover from February 2008.
Under their new national contract, GPs are allowed to pass responsibility for provision of this service to the Health Board, which has a statutory obligation to provide alternative arrangements for patients.
Patients received a letter dated September 24 from NHS Highland Locality Manager Viv Smith advising of Dr Coull’s request and stating that there would be consultation with the local community, including setting up a meeting to provide more information to those affected by the change and involve them in the discussion and arrangements for an alternative service, in conjunction with the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS24.
Dr Coull has previously posted his thoughts on the provision of emergency cover in some detail on the practice website, with a detailed statement from June 2006 listing the drawbacks of providing 24-hour cover and explaining why, despite the difficulties, he continued to do so.
However, in a leaflet dated October 4 and made available to patients, he confirms his decision and sets out the reasons behind it. He cites the huge burden of responsibility for 24-hour cover, as his contract says he has to be immediately available in the practice area at all times for emergencies.
“If a patient was to complain, I would not face a sympathetic hearing. I would be judged by peers who have never worked in remote general practice. Judged by their standards, a trip to the shops in Dunoon could lead to me losing my practice, having registration as a doctor taken away by the GMC, or being sued in court,” states Dr Coull.
This immediate availability clause may also have the effect of an ill doctor who has to leave to attend hospital being in breach of contract if he/she does not organise a locum doctor first.
Dr Coull also expresses his concern at the cost of locums for out of hours cover and the fact that it is difficult to get locum doctors with adequate experience of a 24-hour on call situation.
The leaflet advises that Dr Coull has proposed an alternative. “My wife and I have submitted a bid from our limited company, R K Coull Ltd, to the health board.
“The bid involves continuing to provide out of hours cover from the practice in Strachur. We would use salaried or locum doctors to cover time off. The health board is considering this option. It is quite expensive – it works out at around £400 to £600 per patient call.
“But it means that the health board has the option of keeping a doctor in Strachur 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“If the health board rejects our bid, then night and weekend calls will no longer be part of my contract.”
Dr Coull goes on to reiterate that it is the total responsibility for constant availability that is the main problem, and that he will always be happy to respond to medical emergencies in the area, as will the other doctors in the practice.
No date for a consultation meeting has been published as yet but the initial letter to patients states that ideally this would take place before the end of October 2007.


‘AUTUMN FROM HELL’ FOR FARMERS AS LAMB DISPOSAL SCHEME INTRODUCED
The Scottish Government on Wednesday launched an emergency scheme to humanely cull around 250,000 light lambs which should have already been exported to European markets but which now face starvation from the onset of winter and lack of grazing.
The export markets for which these sheep are intended have been closed for most of the past two months due to the foot and month crisis in England, and these markets will only reopen, subject to conditions, this Friday.
Demand for light lambs, largely small hill breeds of sheep such as the Scottish Blackface, is low within the UK. In Europe, however, the meat is something of a delicacy.
Under the scheme, which is entirely voluntary, farmers will be paid £15 per animal (around £5 less than the animals might fetch in the marketplace) which will then go to abattoir for humane slaughter. The scheme is aimed at light lambs (i.e. those under 25kg liveweight), and it will operate for a maximum period of ten weeks.
Some carcases will be rendered allowing use of skins and fat for biodiesel and the remainder will be incinerated. They will not enter the human food chain.
The scheme is estimated to cost between £5 million and £6 million, depending on uptake.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The foot and mouth crisis has left hundreds of thousands of sheep stranded on our hills facing starvation and it is quite clear that we have to act now to prevent any more suffering. We are already getting isolated reports of lambs dying.
“We cannot countenance the prospect of this continuing given the impact not only on the welfare of the animals but also on those farmers who would otherwise face watching their flocks starve to death. Scotland is facing this problem earlier than other parts of the UK because our grazing cycle is one month ahead. The Scottish Government strongly believes the moral and financial responsibility for this crisis lies with the UK Government.
“We have developed this scheme in consultation with farmers, vets and animal welfare organisations and have made direct approaches in Brussels to the Commission to speed the process up.
“Time is of the essence. There may be opportunities for some of these lambs to be exported from October 12 but any delay in implementing the scheme will simply cause more suffering to these sheep.
Charles Milne, Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland, said: “It is clear that a real welfare problem is emerging. This scheme is essential to prevent a catastrophe of animal suffering on a large scale. However, with the lack of availability of this market we must ensure that the welfare of these animals is not compromised.”
Mike Flynn, Chief Superintendent for the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said: “The current foot and mouth restriction has resulted in some 250,000 light lambs in the remote regions of Scotland losing their market within the traditional livestock calendar. Through no fault of Scottish farmers, these light lambs are already competing for poor grazing or being fed diminishing supplementary feeding that was in place to feed what was expected to be next year’s livestock production. There are already reports of livestock mortalities in these regions, and if the situation remains it will put these light lambs at severe risk of starving to death. The Scottish SPCA therefore fully supports the proposed sheep welfare scheme, and offers the Scottish Government any aid to ensure that the aim of the scheme is transparent and met.”
NFUS President Jim McLaren said: “This is another dark day in what is turning out to be the autumn from hell for Scotland’s livestock industry. To have reached the point where we have to dispose of lambs because they are facing starvation is just horrendous. We have been calling for this scheme, which is an awful necessity. Many farmers will struggle with the concept of the lambs, which they helped come into the world this Spring, being disposed of.
“The condition of tens of thousands of lambs that are still on farms is rapidly deteriorating because of the lack of feed and, worse still, they are eating the grass that the ewes rely on over the winter. If our breeding flock suffers losses over the winter, the consequences for the long-term future of the Scottish sheep industry don’t bear thinking about.
“The fact that the UK Government has still refused to pick up the cost of this scheme is nothing short of a disgrace. The Scottish Government has stepped in and that is absolutely critical, but the negligence and inaction in London will not be forgotten by Scottish farmers.”


COWALFEST TRIBUTE TO LOCAL AUTHOR REVEALED
Cowalfest started on October 5 and with its mix of walking, cycling, film, wildlife, history, arts, music and drama encompassing the very best that Cowal has to offer, there is something for everyone.
Friday October 5 saw the unveiling of a sculpture which, although very much in keeping with the Cowalfest ethos, will be a permanent memorial to one of Scotland’s best contemporary writers with a strong link to Cowal - Robin Jenkins. Robin came to Cowal as a conscientious objector to the Second World War and worked in forestry, later becoming an English teacher at Dunoon Grammar School.
Cowalfest and its partners commissioned Perthshire sculptor Nigel Ross, who used a single piece of sequoia wood to create a “living memorial” to be placed near the Golden Gates within Benmore Garden.
The unveiling was carried out at Benmore Garden’s Courtyard Gallery by Environment Minister Michael Russell, who is himself a Jenkin’s enthusiast and delivered the first Robin Jenkin’s Memorial Lecture during Cowalfest 2005.
The inspiration for Nigel’s sculpture came from what is possibly Robin Jenkins’ greatest and most well-known novel, The Conegatherers. It takes the form of a pine cone sculpted by chainsaw, resting on a base depicting an open book. It took one month to create and is meant to be touched and sat upon, as well as admired.
Michael Russell said: “We want to encourage the creativity of people who were themselves created by the landscape and then go on to create more of the landscape themselves.
“Cowalfest is a great contribution to what Scotland is all about - long may it flourish.
“The only sad note today is that Robin Jenkins could not be here to see the high esteem in which he is held.”
Russell Bruce of Cowal-fest said: “This project has been a long time in the pipeline and we are delighted that it has come to fruition during Michael Russell’s time in the ministry.
“Cowalfest is not just about a ten day festival - it’s also about leaving legacies.”
Following the unveiling, guests were able to enjoy another part of Cowalfest - an exhibition entitled “The River” including sculpture and paintings by Colm Docherty and silver jewellry by Susan Turmeau.
“The River” was inspired by the River Massan and used all sorts of mediums including photographs, sand, stones and fence posts.
Cowalfest runs until October 14.