Threat of strike action London ended - RM Press Release

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Threat of strike action in four London sites ended
Royal Mail today said that the company and the Communication Workers Union had agreed an operational plan and approach to supporting employees through the changes to mail centres in Greater London announced in March.

The CWU have confirmed that no strike action will take place in the sites which were balloted for action in May.

Two of the seven mail centres serving Greater London - South London and East London - will close in phases as part of the way forward agreed with the CWU. East London’s closure date will be August 2012.

The changes will mean an overall reduction in jobs of around 750. Around 580 people are expected to leave Royal Mail on voluntary redundancy packages worth up to two years’ salary. More than 700 full time employees have already expressed an interest in voluntary redundancy and more than 300 of these are being progressed. Royal Mail will remain a major employer in Greater London, employing around 20,000 people.

Royal Mail’s Regional Operations Director for London, Gerry O’Rourke, said: "We welcome this development. We had already made substantial progress on the essential changes to our mail processing operations in London.

"The union’s support for our plans means that both Royal Mail and the CWU can concentrate on working closely with everyone affected to ensure that colleagues get the very best support and advice through what we know is a difficult and sensitive period."

The key points in a joint statement agreed between Royal Mail and the CWU after talks over the past two weeks are:

• Royal Mail and the CWU reaffirm commitment to the Business Transformation 2010 and Beyond agreement.
• The key phases of the operational plan for the rationalisation of mail centres serving Greater London are now agreed and supported by the CWU.
• The programme will be completed without compulsory redundancies.
• A joint people plan with a range of initiatives has been agreed to support employees.

Ends

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[wayoutman]

• Royal Mail and the CWU reaffirm commitment to the Business Transformation 2010 and Beyond agreement.

[fishtank]

• Royal Mail and the CWU reaffirm commitment to the Business Transformation 2010 and Beyond agreement.

How did they manage that when the talks were only about London?
A great starting point for national negotiations.

[andy2007]

Sadly it's what we've come to expect. Not specifically from London, but whenever anything gets agreed. There's always some kind of flaw in it, which the Members see, but the Negotiators don't.

[stokes11eg]

Big difference from 'supporting employess through the changes' and the war cries of a few days ago!