UNION representatives at Royal Mail in Southampton are calling on their regional counterparts for support in the case of a sacked postie.

Steve Race was dismissed for his sickness record while he lay in a hospital bed recovering from thestroke he suffered when out on his rounds.

Officials from the Communication Workers Union have met and now say they are also concerned about members being forced to work over their contracted hours and through their meal breaks, often without payment.

One postal worker has spoken of several cases of new recruits feeling threatened into taking on extra work, for fear of being sacked at the end of their probationary periods.

"They are telling the new entrants they have to do all this extra work," said the man, who did not want to be named. "They're just frightened of losing their jobs - it is terrible what's going on.

"They come in early to get all their duties done but don't even have time for meal breaks and the managers won't let them go, but they don't want to pay them the overtime."

Just two weeks before his stroke Mr Race complained to his manager at Bitterne delivery office that he was unhappy at being made to work too much over his part-time contract of 32.5 hours a week.

The 55-year-old from Totton said he was simply told not to "rock the boat" because his three-month review was due.

He was hospitalised for four months by the stroke, which has left him virtually paralysed down his left side and unable to walk without a stick and leg splint.

Despite his previously good record, Mr Race was dismissed in November - while still in a hospital bed at Ashurst - for "poor attendance".

His wife Carol this week launched a bid to take Royal Mail to an industrial tribunal to force the company to accept it acted unfairly.

And after being contacted by the Daily Echo, company chiefs have agreed to review his case.

A spokeswoman said Royal Mail has a well-defined framework for the union or any member of staff to complain about working practices.

She added that management would be willing to look at the outcome of the meeting.