Mail union ballot papers 'lost in post'

The Communication and Workers Union in London refused to count the block vote for Edinburgh branch secretary Derek Durkin as Scotland's regional secretary, claiming it failed to reach the union?s headquarters before last week's deadline.

That was despite the secretary of the Grampian and Shetland branch personally handing in the result to Aberdeen's main Royal Mail delivery depot on November 29 - a week and a half before last Wednesday's voting deadline.

Supporters of Mr Durkin, a member of the Scottish Socialist Party, said he would have been elected to the position, which involves representing about 15,000 postal workers and thousands more telecommunications staff, had the vote been included. Edinburgh Evening News