Post Office talks cautiously welcomed

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Post Offices bosses have finally agreed to engage in meaningful talks with the union in an ongoing dispute over pay and the company's transformation plans which have seen members in Crown Post Offices walkout on four separate occasions since March.

Not without concerns, Andy Furey welcomed this development and the prospect of dialogue, explaining: "This development does not mean the Post Office is ready to roll over and cave in. Equally, they know that we won't be throwing in the towel. I made it clear that I wouldn't be going to a meeting if they were just going to restate the same old position - the Post Office understand this and have reassured me that they have something different to say. Whilst this is a step in the right direction these things tend to move forward very slowly and, in all probability, further strike action will be required."


"Talks are scheduled for this Thursday. Please keep an eye on the website, follow me @AndyFurey_CWU and @CWUnews on Twitter if you haven't already and join the Post Office Pay group on Facebook for the latest breaking news," said Andy.

'A day in the life' video

On the 29th April, the third round of strike action, CWUTV tailed Andy Furey as he visited picket lines across the country en route to a public meeting to save the Hastings Crown Office.

This short film is the result: http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/post-of ... X7zIdLOC-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




Speaking candidly about the strike action and his disappointment in the way Post Office bosses have, up until this week, refused to engage in meaningful negotiations with the union, Andy highlights the "dreadful" way in which the company has treated its hard-working and highly skilled staff and illustrates the mounting support from the public and local communities over the Post Office's franchising and closure plans.


The film reaches its climax at a public meeting in Hastings, addressed by Jeremy Birch, Leader of Hastings Borough Council, and Sarah Owen, Labour's Parliamentary Candidate. Commenting on the success of the meeting, Andy said: "This packed public meeting portrays just how impassioned the people of Hastings are about saving their Crown Office and left Post Office representatives in attendance in no doubt as to the affection the public holds for the Crown Office and the staff. The Post Office woefully lacked answers to questions posed by a well-informed audience of locals with serious concerns about the future of the service should the Crown Office be franchised.

"This video clearly shows that the Post Office's transformation plans are flawed and their unjust treatment of their staff will not be tolerated by the union, our members and the public," said Andy.