Post dispute: ‘I voted against the deal, so should you,' s

[mucker]

The postal workers’ strike against Royal Mail has been a crucial fight for all those who believe in public services, run by workers with decent pay, pensions and conditions. With over 130,000 members of the postal workers’ CWU union taking part in eight days of action, the strikers were in the forefront of the battle to break Gordon Brown’s public sector pay freeze.

That action has now been suspended while the union consults its members on a possible deal. Dave Warren, a member of the CWU postal executive, was one of five executive members who voted against the deal. Socialist Worker spoke to him about the implications of the proposed settlement.

‘Pensions, flexibility and pay remain the key issues of the dispute, and I have strong reservations about what the deal has to say in these areas.

On pensions, after 2010, you will only be able to retire on full benefits at age 65.

For manual workers who do a physically demanding job this is a big issue.

Changing our pension scheme from one that is based on your final average salary to one that is based on career average earnings will almost certainly have the effect of reducing benefits for many.

On flexibility the union has conceded the employers’ position almost completely. Local reps are going to be forced into agreeing “efficiency dealsâ€

[PostfromNotts]

In agreement 100%

[DGP1]

The real figure is 5.4 percent over two years.

That is just 2.66 percent a year – and well below inflation.

2.7% this year and only 1.5% next year (so long as we've implemented all RM changes) so the deal's even worse than you think

[dean41]

totally agree. just hope everyone can see through the shite royal fail is trying to blind us with. A terrible terrible deal and the headpieces on the PEC should be ashamed of themselves. Vote no for gods sake

[Carnoustie]

totally agree. just hope everyone can see through the shite royal fail is trying to blind us with. A terrible terrible deal and the headpieces on the PEC should be ashamed of themselves. Vote no for gods sake

[thexxxpostman]

this has no chance of being accepted..the way forward result though leaves me with little confidence of a no vote actually winning even if theres more nos than yes in the boxes