POSTIES AFRAID OF ICY ROUNDS
Deliveries in the Congleton area were disrupted yesterday after postmen and women only embarked on their routes at 11am.
The delay came because members of the Communication Workers Union were in discussions with management about whether Royal Mail would take responsibility if a worker was injured by falling on the ice.
After the talks, a Royal Mail spokesman said: "All our postmen and women are working hard to keep the mail moving and deliver as much mail as possible where it is safe to do so.
"Over 90 per cent of staff went out on delivery from Congleton Delivery Office yesterday, although they left the office slightly later than usual."
Temperatures in the town plunged to below –10°C yesterday as the region suffered another day of wintry weather.
Staff from Royal Mail's delivery office in Congleton usually start going out on their rounds from about 8am.
Yesterday's delay meant homes and businesses in Congleton and the surrounding area, as far as Holmes Chapel, suffered a disrupted service just weeks after a series of strikes were staged by postal workers at the end of last year.
Pensioner Joyce Clarke, who lives in St John's Road, Buglawton, said: "We didn't have any post yesterday, but we didn't see any postmen in Buglawton at all."
Across North Staffordshire and South Cheshire, some areas which have suffered the worst snow and ice have not been served by postal workers.
Areas most affected included parts of the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Malcolm Brundrett, union area representative for the Midlands, said in recent days, slips by the region's postal workers had caused harm including an injured back and a broken wrist.
But he added: "We have struggled through most of the town deliveries. It has just been some of the rural routes which have been affected.
"Royal Mail has taken a sensible view that it is in everyone's best interests to avoid deliveries in the most treacherous areas."
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