Nostalgia: Walkout on the wild side

IT was announced this week that a postal strike is coming in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Royal Mail workers voted to walk out in defence of one postal worker, Dave Mitchell, 57, who was sacked in 2014 after 'test' items went missing.

Postal staff arrive back at the GPO in North Bridge in 1971. Picture: TSPL

Mr Mitchell, from Chance Inn, near Cupar, Fife, maintained he was innocent, winning his employment tribunal. Judge Ian McFatridge twice ordered his reinstatement but Royal Mail refused to comply.

Deliveries across the EH (Edinburgh and Lothians), TD (Borders), FK (Stirling and central areas) and KY (Glenrothes and Fife) postcodes now face disruption in the run-up to the Holyrood elections on May 5.

And it wouldn’t be the first time the hard-working postal workers of the Capital have left their pictures show them arriving back at the General Post Office in North Bridge following a strike in March 1971.

Scottish NUM leader Mick McGahey is jostled by angry miners in Brunswick Street in March 1985. Picture: TSPL

In April 1989, it was BBC workers who were downing tools as they walked out in a row over pay. News desk secretary Dot Gregor led the protests in Thistle Street.

The most famous strike of all prompted angry scenes at the Graphic Social Club in Brunswick Street in March 1985. There, Scottish National Union of Miners leader Mick McGahey was jostled by members as he left a special delegate

conference.

And bin men were branding a pay offer a load of rubbish in October 1969 as they carried placards while marching towards Princes Street.

Firefighters picketed the Lauriston Place station in November 1977 as they tried to keep warm during a walkout.