POSTIES in Birmingham are balloting to walk out on strike after claims that a fellow worker with chronic anxiety and depression has been unfairly sacked.

Royal Mail workers at the Shirley delivery office are balloting after the worker was fired in February.

The reason given for his dismissal was his regular absence from the workplace.

However, because the man’s accumulated absence was caused by his medically diagnosed conditions, he is protected by the 2010 Equality Act, which states that absences caused by diagnosed medical conditions cannot be considered in disciplinary measures.

The workers, who are members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), wished to take immediate strike action in February.

This was narrowly averted when managers promised a fair appeal for their colleague.

However, the union has said that the appeal seems to have not been properly conducted. It says that the manager who made the dismissal verdict refused to interview the worker’s manager, the office’s union representative or the worker’s work-partner.

It is understood that the workers are strongly willing to fight the dismissal of their colleague, and the union’s national executive council has approved the ballot going ahead.

CWU Birmingham and District branch secretary Steve Reid said: “The workforce at this unit are absolutely 100 per cent behind this member. We held a full branch reps’ meeting this morning, with reps from all 31 Birmingham delivery units, and there is strong support and solidarity right across Birmingham and District. 

“We demand justice.”