Royal Mail's Modernisation Plans/Mail Centre Rationalisation

[POSTMAN]

LTB

The Union met Senior Managers from Royal Mail yesterday afternoon to discuss the serious industrial relations situation which has developed over Royal Mail's rationalisation plans and the Union' s decision to Ballot 13 Mail Centres for Industrial Action.

We covered a range of issues and although both parties recognise that we need to work together and find solutions to all the challenges we face, it was not possible to make real progress.

However, we have agreed to meet again on Wednesday 26th November 2008. Royal Mail have told us that they want to reinvigorate Phase 4 of the Pay and Modernisation Agreement which deals with the next critical phase of Royal Mail's Modernisation Plan and was designed to lead to new National Agreements. The company have also told us that they want to discuss a new standardised approach to Mail Centre Rationalisation and that they will share with us some new proposals originating from the Thames Valley area which are designed to maximise the choices available to our members when dealing with major change.

At this stage Royal Mail have stated they are not prepared to review the decisions that they have already made over Mail Centre closures. The Union has told Royal Mail that it is essential we reach an Agreement that deals with the current Mail Centre situation including the impact on terms & conditions and all aspects of their Modernisation Plans.

We have again asked Royal Mail to confirm how many job losses are envisaged over the duration of the Plan and they have told us there are no definitive figures. We have also posed similar questions in relation to their operational strategy and again they have told us they have no definitive end state forecast for the number of Mail Centres required in future and that they have not finalised their plan for Delivery.

You will see from the above that the situation continues to be serious and the Union is continuing with the Industrial Action Ballots with papers being despatched to members on the 19th November 2008.