I want to offer my condolences to the families of both Nick Acker and Russell Scruggs, who were killed at two separate US postal facilities in the past two weeks. Their deaths are not isolated incidents relating just to the United States, but are part of a carnage of deaths and injuries that are happening around the world.
In the United Kingdom, Des Beach, a normally healthy
postman, died of a heart attack. According to his partner, Pauline, expert
cardiologists at the hospital all agreed that stress over the last couple of
years was a contributory factor to his heart attack. Des’s death and the sharp escalation of other deaths and injuries are the direct result of two interrelated
factors. Firstly, Royal Mail’s assault on postal workers' wages and conditions.
The worsening conditions faced daily are imposed not only by a ruthless
management but also by the Communication Workers Union bureaucracy.
In the summer months, postal workers were forced to work for
five to six hours outside in sweltering heat. In winter, workers finish after
dark, and it needs to be looked at how many injuries are caused by this, as
some workers are scared to report accidents on duty because they face a
draconian new sickness regime that is being used by Royal Mail to get rid of
long-standing postal workers. Most buildings owned or leased are so old that
heating is virtually nonexistent. Some managers were forced to bring in extra
heaters amid protests by men facing near-freezing temperatures. Most buildings
are also riddled with asbestos, which can be lethal if inhaled. Delivery
offices in London are filthy due to cutbacks in the time cleaners spend in the
building, with mice and rats a common sight during the day and night.
