Royal Mail in talks to avert strike in Crewe

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http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html

ROYAL Mail bosses will meet with union leaders to discuss the closure of Crewe's sorting office.

Members of the South Cheshire branch of the Communication Workers' Union (CWS) met with national union leaders in London yesterday to decide whether to ballot 600 Royal Mail workers over strike action against plans to close the Weston Road sorting office.

Ideas were put forward at the meeting on how to stop Royal Mail transferring up to 600 jobs from Crewe to Warrington.

The meeting follows on from the massive rally on October 25 when more than 500 people took to the streets in Crewe to protest against Royal Mail's plans.

Royal Mail bosses have now agreed to meet with union officials next week.

CWU South Cheshire branch secretary, Steve Wright, said the last thing the union wants is to disrupt postal services in Crewe but that if Royal Mail hadn't agreed to talks then a ballot on strike action would have gone ahead.

He told The Sentinel: "Hopefully it won't come to strike action. That is the last thing we want because it does no-one any good.

"If we do end up having a ballot and get a big 'yes' for strike action, then we're hoping we won't have to take it.

"What we wanted was to get back round the negotiating table with Royal Mail and we have managed that for now.

"We will have to wait and see what the talks next week bring.

"All we are asking for is for an agreed process to deal with the closures and for dealing with people.

"When we had the last strike, one of the main points in the agreement was that there would be talks before any changes but they disregarded that. Now we just want them to listen to what we have to say."

Leader of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, John Hammond, said: "I'm pleased to see Royal Mail agreeing to talks.

"This demonstrates just how serious the situation has become and I would urge that it's not too late for management to provide a positive response to the viable alternatives to relocation that have been proposed.

"Industrial action should be seen as the last resort for all concerned."