Post Office workers pre-Christmas strike

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey praised hard-working Post Office staff for their "rock-solid determination" as the Post Office was served notice for further strike and boycott action today (Wednesday).

Staff in the country's network of 372 Crown post offices will take a thirteenth round of strike action next Wednesday (20 November) for half a day along with staff working in admin and supply chain functions (supplying cash to post offices) who will take their first full day of strike action in a dispute over pay. The action is being coordinated with managers in Post Office Supply Chain represented by Unite who will also be on strike on the 20th. In addition, from Thursday 21 November Crown post office workers will boycott financial services sales for eight consecutive days, as the union steps up its action in the period leading up to Christmas.

Andy said that he had "nothing but the greatest admiration for our members out there across the country.

"Every time the union has called them out, they've responded magnificently, with rock-solid determination - they've stuck together throughout these past eight months and resisted every single attempt by management to divide, demoralise and undermine them.

"This has been our union's longest continuous national dispute for many years and let's make no mistake, the one and only reason why Post Office bosses came back to the negotiating table was because they knew that they could not break our members' fighting spirit," Andy explained.

After almost eight months of refusing to discuss pay with the CWU, the company finally changed their position at the start of this month as a result of the ongoing action, the increasing effectiveness of the sales boycotts, and the prospect of more workers joining the action.

"Just when we were all set for the biggest strike yet, company chiefs agreed to negotiate," explains Andy, who added that the business also asked the union to stand down the planned action on November 4th while negotiations took place.

"As a sign of good faith, we agreed to stand down the action in order to create a better environment for the talks, but after a week of discussions, it became clear that the business were not prepared to engage seriously on the key issues, leaving us with no alternative but to call further action.

"We're more determined than ever to achieve the best possible deal for our members, who've stuck together solidly for these past eight months," Andy concluded.

Adding his support to Post Office staff, deputy general secretary, Dave Ward said: "Post Office management is out of touch with its staff and customers over plans to close Crown offices and cut staff. The company is unfairly imposing pay freezes on both Crown staff and now admin and supply chain workers while senior managers have enjoyed significant bonus payments. These double-standards cannot continue and we hope that this latest strike action will focus the minds of management."

The long-running Crown office dispute affects up to 4,000 staff and is over a pay freeze, plans to close and/or franchise 75 offices and cut up to 1,500 jobs. The admin and supply chain dispute involves up to 1,500 people and is in reaction to a pay freeze. The closure and franchising plans are meeting stiff opposition across the country with tens of thousands signing petitions, and public meetings unanimously rejecting the plans.

[Captain Scarlet]

And is this long running dispute getting them anywhere????

[biscuit1957]

At least they got balls,why havn't we walked yet?

[crookes]

At least they got balls,why havn't we walked yet?

Totally agree with you. Some may say they are getting nowhere but at least their leaders and staff are rock solid and up for making sacrifices to protect a valuable service and for better terms and conditions! Let's be honest about what most staff are saying in delivery offices up and down the country: Ward and the PEC have lost the plot completely and talk rubbish while the job becomes more difficult and pressured for front line delivery staff. Far worse than in 2007 and 2009 job wise and still no industrial action to stand up to Royal Mails savage budgets and cuts.

[BingBong]

At least they got balls,why havn't we walked yet?

second that

[meercat]

We do have the balls. The company is meeting our demands, slowly. We are getting there, we could be out soon if they don't move further.

[biscuit1957]

We do have the balls. The company is meeting our demands, slowly. We are getting there, we could be out soon if they don't move further.

How much slowly do you want? What do mean IF they dont move further?this has been in talks for months,we voted to strike unless they met our demands,they did not,strike action has been put back twice now,They have gave a little we have gave a little, so why are we still working? Enough is enough,let us show them we mean business :vcfo

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Here we are approaching Xmas when CWU should be negotiating next year's pay increase and we have yet to hear what we will get from back in April this year.

[jamwell]

Here we are approaching Xmas when CWU should be negotiating next year's pay increase and we have yet to hear what we will get from back in April this year.

spot on..............

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Here we are approaching Xmas when CWU should be negotiating next year's pay increase and we have yet to hear what we will get from back in April this year.

spot on..............

except that the pay offer that is being negotiated is a 3 year deal, so they are deciding next years and the year after. Still it is frustrating that the pay awards always seem a drawn out affair.