Two renditions of happy birthday by my mum on voicemail followed by our International worhsip leader Rev David Barrie and the coral of Cafe Refresh later, a telephone call explained all.
Check out the article below extracted from the mighty Belfast Teeeeellllleeeeeeeeeeee
Thanks to everyone for there kind words, cards and pressie there were gratefully recieved thanks guys.
Later Colin
PS... The last post for some reason is doing mental things its got a mind of its own.
Adrians Blog... address go to www.cfc-net.org/adrianblog.html
Royal Mail strike to go onDemand for industrial relations review
By Debra Douglas08 February 2006
The Royal Mail strike was continuing last night despite protesting workers being urged to call off their week-long wildcat action by a union leader.Ray Ellis, a national officer from the Communication Workers' Union, held a meeting with staff yesterday to encourage them to go back to work but strikers refused to return until their demand for a full independent industrial relations review is met.
But at the same time he said Royal Mail should agree to a review of employee relations. "We are doing our best to get our people back. Royal Mail need to respond," he said.
A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: "This is not the outcome we and our customers had hoped for. We need to establish why the national CWU officials have been unable to achieve a return to work."
Several hundred striking postal workers then staged a march along the Shankill Road and Falls Road before parading through Belfast city centre.
Sinn Fein MLA Michael Ferguson crossed the "peace line" to join the workers.
Addressing the crowd, he said: "The request by postal workers is very reasonable it merely asks for an independent review of disciplinary procedures and they have even agreed to accept the outcome."
UUP East Belfast MLA Michael Copeland called on Royal Mail management to instigate an open and independent review of employee and industrial relations to resolve the ongoing dispute.
Meanwhile, concerns about the impact of the strike deepened following the decision by Royal Mail to suspend its special delivery services "with immediate effect". Mail posted in Belfast will not be delivered or processed and mail posted in Northern Ireland for delivery outside the province will not be dispatched.
However, as the mail centre is still operational, post is getting to the rest of Northern Ireland.
But the watchdog Postwatch said it wanted to see Royal Mail do more to advise customers about what was happening.
Postal strike is hit by sinister twistMail crisis deepens as unions fall out
By Deborah McAleese and Sam McBride08 February 2006
The postal crisis deepened today with strikers steadfastly refusing to return to work amid allegations of sinister threats to a colleague and a fallout among the two unions involved.
Police today confirmed they received a report of a "suspicious" phone call to a member of staff at Royal Mail who had refused to join the strike.
A police spokeswoman said: "Police are aware of a report of a suspicious phone call that was received by a member of staff at the Royal Mail on February 1. It was reported to police for information."
Union officials said they were unaware of the alleged incident, but added that if it is true then it is "concerning."
There is also growing concern over the financial implications of the unofficial strike on postal workers and their families, but union officials said that the strikers remain adamant that they will not be returning to work until Royal Mail agrees to carry out an independent industrial relations review.
Communication Workers Union (CWU) Eoin Davey said: "If reports of the alleged phone call are true then of course I would be concerned. We would condemn any threats and have asked everyone to act sensibly. Allegations like these are putting a dark cloud over the postmen who have received so much good community report.
"We had a meeting with them this morning to urge them to go back to work as this is an unofficial strike but they are adamant that they will not be returning until Royal Mail agrees to their reasonable request."
Mr Davey today added that his union was planning to meet with the general secretary of the GMB to voice his anger at a letter which was sent to strikers.
The letter from a representative of the union GMB, which represents around 20 Royal Mail workers, stated that the strike was "sinister" and "the worst example of senseless action I have ever witnessed."
Mr Davey said the CWU has contacted the general secretary of the GMB asking him to repudiate the comments.
Meanwhile, one striker, who did not want to be named, said he is beginning to feel the financial strain.
Speaking from the picket line at Tomb Street, the 39 year-old from west Belfast added: "It is very difficult financially. It is definitely starting to bite but there is a real principle at stake here. We haven't done this lightly. I always taught my daughter to stand up to bullies so I have to stand up to the bullies here."
The strike, which initially disrupted post in north, south and west Belfast is now beginning to affect the rest of the province with the suspension of Royal Mail's special delivery service. Also, no mail posted in Northern Ireland is being delivered outside Ulster.
Financial repercussions are beginning to hit small businesses which rely on the postal service to deliver goods as well as to send and receive payments.
Postal services watchdog Postwatch said it has written to Royal Mail asking management to do more to advise customers about what was happening and what they should be doing to reduce the inconvenience caused by the strike.
Businesses feel the squeeze - Page 10
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