ROYAL Mail workers have refused to deliver British National Party election leaflets as their union accuses Royal Mail of breaking a 'conscience clause' allowing staff to refuse to deliver literature they find offensive.
A number of the 160 delivery staff at a postal depot in Macclesfield told bosses they would not distribute the material. Some postal staff in Prestwich, Bury, Glossop, Wilmslow, and Alderley Edge have also objected to delivering the leaflets.
Sian Jones, spokeswoman for the Communication Workers Union said: "At Macclesfield staff were apparently told by delivery depot manager that if they did not deliver the BNP leaflets they would not be allowed to deliver any political leaflets, and so would lose money, as they get extra for delivering them. That is a clear breach of the clause we agreed.
The pamphlets promote the BNP ahead of the European Parliamentary elections on June 4.
The Royal Mail has a legal obligation under the Representation of the People Act to deliver election material but delivery of the leaflets has caused anger.
Vicky Charles, who lives in Hazel Grove, Stockport, said: "The postman gave one of the leaflets to me as we were outside packing the car. I was outraged and said I didn't want it.
"But he said 'I have got to deliver it'. It was full of inflammatory statements relating to Muslims and asylum seekers. It annoyed me greatly, but how will people from black and ethnic minority groups feel about having this stuff pushed through their letter box?"
A spokesman for the Royal Mail said in a statement said: "Where possible we will try to be flexible and sensitive to individual personal circumstances or beliefs. However, we need to balance this with Royal Mail's legal obligations, under the Representation of People Act, to deliver election material."
BNP spokesman Simon Darby, said: "It is called an election - it is one of the privileges of living in a democracy.
"Most of the leaflets have gone out. If some post workers don't want to deliver the leaflets they will find some with a more professional attitude, who want the overtime and will. It is up to the public what they read not post workers."
He said the Royal mail had delivered 29 million leaflets nationwide for the BNP.
Bob Gibson, CWU national official, said: "We have a national agreement with Royal Mail with a conscience clause which allows individuals to exercise their right to not deliver material which they find offensive or believe their customers may find offensive.
"It is not specific to any political party. We are protecting the rights of our members to be safe at work. Royal Mail has a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees.
"We have had instances of delivery workers being threatened, chased and spat at for delivering some election leaflets. We will support individuals who feel strongly about delivering these items. Postal workers are well within their rights to refuse to deliver offensive material."
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Angelene19, Manchester (19/05/2009 at 06:07)
City for EUFA (19/05/2009 at 06:34)
James Sutherland (19/05/2009 at 06:43)
So what? The consequences of freedom can be 'annoying' and 'inflammatory' sometimes - deal with it. Presumably many of those same 'asylum seekers' had fled countries where freedom of speech and the democratic process were non-existent. Now Charles wants to inflict the same treatment on them again.
If Vicky Charles wants someone else to decide what political material she receives then that's her business, but don't deny other voters their RIGHT.
Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (19/05/2009 at 07:30)
Grey Flag, manchester (19/05/2009 at 07:33)
where else can you get a strongly argued political message publicised nationally for the price of a few leaflets.
come on MEN how much is a full page colour advert on your front page.
Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (19/05/2009 at 07:50)
Their views are offensive to me - but more offensive is the way people can pick and chose their work and fail in their duty to keep the democracy we live in. Any professional in a job has to do work he or she may disagree with.
roland smith (19/05/2009 at 07:51)
Harry, Benchill (19/05/2009 at 08:19)
Whether you agree with teh BNP or not it is wrong that those in power promote free speech when we invade other countries but you dare have views that are far right and you are castigated. Surely that is some form of oppression? Look at that lady in Burma who is opposing the regime there. We report on that saying how awaful it is that she can't speak out, yet we are trying to quash the BNP speaking out.
Far left parties get away with it but far rights get trodden on.
Who was it that said 'I will fight your argument because I don't agree you you but I will fight even harder for your right to be heard'. How times have changed.
What would happen if say I didn't like the Lib Dems and I worked as a postie in a ward of theirs that was neck and nech wit Labour and I said 'oh, I find the Lib Dems offensive so I won't deliver their propaganda' so that their message wouldn't get through?
Justified True Belief , - ... (19/05/2009 at 08:34)
The candidate postmen/women should be asked at the interview if they have “personal beliefs” that would prevent them from delivering ANY items of mail. If they answer “yes” then they are unable to carry out the job and hence should not be hired. What happens if you get a postman that doesn’t like brown envelopes, or letters from banks.
This is beyond ridiculous.
uss midway, Holstein Ostsee. (19/05/2009 at 08:40)
tony (19/05/2009 at 08:56)
Vicky Charles comes over as a political activist so her 'outrage' is to be expected.
The media is printing all sorts of smears against the BNP and it is bound to take the more gullible in, however, I shall be sticking with the BNP. The rest are all con merchants. £350 for horse manure indeed! Punish the pigs on 4th June.
Tezza, Tyldesley (19/05/2009 at 09:19)
Tezza, Tyldesley (19/05/2009 at 09:21)
so where is this going to stop?,
labour voting postmen refusing the deliver conservative flyer?
Pete F (19/05/2009 at 09:21)
Jay B, oldham (19/05/2009 at 09:39)
i had a anti BNP leaflet through the door yesterday which was going on about hope not hate. yet after reading it all it actually went on about was hate! for the BNP. all this propoganda against them is actually giving them more and more publicity!
Pippa, Manchester (19/05/2009 at 09:40)
GOD IS A BLUE, Failsworth (19/05/2009 at 09:47)
Laura Norder, Didsbury (19/05/2009 at 09:48)
I fully understand the 'conscience' aspect for CWU members - and others - but, in the interests of 'democracy', bite the bullet and allow the BNP to waste their limited funds on printing and postage.
theface, City Centre (19/05/2009 at 09:51)
I for one am not a fan of the BNP, but let people decide on an individual basis.
CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (19/05/2009 at 09:58)
AlexisV (19/05/2009 at 10:01)
JohnB, Manchester (19/05/2009 at 10:09)
Royal mail workers are just complaining for the sake of it, every small problem they are refusing to do this and that and threaten strikes.
Rob Smith (19/05/2009 at 10:22)
zarquon, bramhall (19/05/2009 at 10:24)
The CWU may have had instances where their members have been threatened, chased and spat upon, however it may have been after they delivered Labour, Conservative or Lib Dem leaflets.
Dr Armadillo (19/05/2009 at 10:37)
The most 'amusing' statement on the BNP leaflet was about Britain being 'swamped' by 80 million turkish muslims: fact: population of Turkey = 71 million!