A postal dispute could spark countywide strikes following the sacking of a postman.
Union officials were locked in talks with Royal Mail bosses yesterday over the dismissal of a postman in Bicester, who stands accused of making a fraudulent claim concerning an industrial accident.
The postman, who has not been identified, allegedly took two days' sick leave after twisting his ankle at work.
He was then sacked which prompted wildcat strike action by 42 workers employed at Bicester's Murdock Road depot, where he worked, last Wednesday morning which severely disrupted deliveries around the town. Employees at the Oxford sorting office also walked out for an hour in support of their Bicester colleagues, but deliveries there were not disrupted.
Union officials from the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) negotiated an agreement with Royal Mail management and the striking postmen returned to work the following morning.
The Royal Mail also agreed to pay the sacked postman until the outcome of his appeal which is expected on Friday.
Pete Boswell, the union's Oxfordshire branch secretary, said staff at Bicester were "outraged" over the whole incident. He said: "Workers there are not happy at all with the way this case is being dealt with."
Mr Boswell said although the incident was of an individual nature, it had implications for every postman who took sick leave.
He added: "I'm sure members at Bicester will ask for a ballot calling for strike action if the appeal goes against the postman."
A Royal Mail spokesman said every employee had a right to an appeal and a decision on the postman's future would not be rushed.
Story date: Wednesday 10 November
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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