Aranui postal strike threatens to spread

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 5

Aranui postal strike threatens to spread

The strike by postmen and postwomen in Aranul could spread to other parts of Christchurch'next week.

The Deputy Chief Postmaster in Christchurch, Mr Pat Nicholas, said yesterday that the Aranui posties were seeking support from other posties and there could be more strikes next week.

The 18 Aranui posties

have been on strike since Monday in support of a campaign for an extra worker in the number six and seven postal zones. They will continue striking until Monday, when they will review the situation. Mr Bradley said he would be very disappointed if other posties joined the strike. The Post Office was still willing to

make a comprehensive check to decide whether another postie was needed. Negotiations are being held between the Post Office Union and the industrial division of the Post Office. Asked why the Post Office had not warned Aranui residents of a possible strike when it had had 14 days notice, Mr Nicholas said that the

Post Office had believed there was some common ground until at the last moment the postal delivery staff withdrew from further talks and implemented their threat to strike.

The backlog of mail which built up at the Aranui Post Office had now been removed for security reasons, Mr Bradley said.