Second 'sick pay' protest at Royal Mail sorting office

The campaign group, Derry Against Fuel Poverty, has held a second protest at the Royal Mail sorting office in Derry over the issue of sick pay for postal workers.

Sinead Quinn, a spokesperson for the organisation, said: "Last week, we raised the case of local postal workers not being paid for their sick leave. It is very unfortunate that the issue has not been fully resolved. We have been updated that only one out of the five workers affected have so far been paid, which simply isn't good enough. It is not okay for managers to pick and choose who they will pay and adhering to employee terms and conditions isn't optional.

"Of course, Royal Mail is well aware of all this and the fact that they're dragging their feet in paying their workers what they're due is indicative of the arrogant attitude of middle management and higher ups in these huge corporations."

"We delivered our message to the managers at Royal Mail this morning via a protest outside the sorting office where we were joined briefly by Mark Durkan SDLP MLA and People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin.

"Our message is simple - stop pulling strokes and pay our posties. People have enough stress and worry to deal with without playing silly little games with their livelihoods and lives. Do the decent thing and pay them immediately."

Ms Quinn added that many people locally had become used to having to "fight for every single thing we have".

"Especially those of us on benefits, in and out of work," she added. "It is shameful and soul-destroying to see working people, in what were once seen to be "decent" jobs, having to fight for basic things like sick pay to boot."

"We need to stand together on these issues whether it be outside the sorting office, outside the hospital, outside the Housing Executive or outside Capita. That's the only way things will ever change.

"If you want to see a better Derry and a better world, you need to come out and stand with us to be part of that change."