The Alloa postal workers who went on strike were at the end of their tether.
They felt as if their safety has been compromised and no one was listening.
The Royal Mail is the fourth emergency service. Our posties carry out essential work and provide a lifeline to people across the country.
Like many, they are exposed to Covid-19 infection but understand the responsibilities of being key workers and the importance of doing their job.
We’ve all had to adapt to our changed circumstances.
Essential workers up and down the country have kept going through the lockdown, often at personal risk.
Employers must demonstrate a duty of care to their staff especially when they ask them to do so much.
The Royal Mail should help lighten the load by keeping junk mail in the sorting office and doing all they can to supply the correct personal protective equipment.
The Alloa posties have shown how strongly they feel.
None of them would have wanted to add to their stress levels by taking any kind of industrial action.
It is time for Royal Mail bosses to show they care for workers who each day step up to the mark for all of us.
Don’t take liberties
Defeating coronavirus is the most important challenge we have faced since the tyranny of Nazism.
To that end, laws have been passed to force people to stay at home and stop the spread of the disease.
The legislation has seen a significant erosion of civil liberties that would have been unimaginable a few weeks ago.
It is vital these measures are temporary.
Once Covid-19 is no more than a bitter memory, we must ensure extra powers given to the police are withdrawn.
We live in a vibrant democracy where individual freedoms are essential to make it work.
Lawyers such as Aamer Anwar are right to warn of the dangers of any society giving up rights even on a temporary basis.
The Daily Record will make sure that point is not lost on our political leaders in the months to come.
Private house
Tom and Sandra Hogg have brought a bit of light relief to Stonehaven by recreating The Clansman pub.
The famous Still Game hostelry has been replicated at the side of their home in the seaside town.
Sadly, social distancing means the north-east’s answer to Boaby the barman won’t have many customers for a while.
