Sky news: Postal Union Delivers Royal Mail Ultimatum

[johnson]

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Sky News understands postal workers will begin national strike action on October 22 if a last-ditch offer to Royal Mail management is rejected.

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The Communication Workers Union says it has written to Royal Mail offering a deal to avoid strike action, adding its offer would help restore customer confidence and resolve long running disputes over jobs, pay and work levels.

If Royal Mail management refuses this offer then formal strike action will be announced this coming Thursday.

Under employment law, seven days' notice of a strike will have to be given - so the first walk-out could happen on October.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Postal workers do not want to have to take strike action, but neither are they prepared to put up with continuing attacks from a management which is failing.

"We have today written to Royal Mail making it clear that the CWU is ready to issue notice for a national strike as voted for by three quarters of postal workers."

Details of the offer were set out in a letter addressed to Mark Higson, the chief executive of the Royal Mail.

Unions want Royal Mail to discuss better pay and working conditions for staff and to approach government to address the group's estimated £10bn pension deficit.

Mark Higson said in response to the CWU's ultimatum: "If the union are serious about resolving this dispute they should immediately lift the threat of strike action, including the strikes planned for tomorrow in London, which have hung over our customers for far too long.

"Royal Mail is very disappointed that the CWU continues to threaten customers with national strike action and still fails to honour repeated offers to call off all strikes even though Royal Mail told them two weeks ago there would be no further changes this year."

Industrial action by postal workers two years ago took the form of rolling strikes.

This type of action affected various parts of Royal Mail's services on different days, as opposed to an all-out national strike by all postal workers.

Speaking on Sky News, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce David Frost said: "The announcement today will be a serious knock to business confidence.

"The run up to Christmas is a vital trading period for firms and if this strike goes ahead orders will be lost and the fragile recovery will be undermined.

"It is about time those involved in the industry showed some much needed leadership and brought an end to this disruption."

[Shrek]

What planet does that idiot Higson live on? He has never listened to anything that has been said and always seems to try and make things worse. He needs to be sacked along with Crozier and the rest of the board. The good thing is anyone with any common sense reads or hears what he says after reading the CWU offer will realise where the problems lie. It has to be said that this management have proved Hooper was right about RM management

[bandit1157]

higson was offered a no strike deal but gave us the finger. now he can see we mean business he wants it back, to late. strike until we get what we deserve. the more we strike the more eager royal mail will be to talk. get rid of the oppressive regime and all it's little hitlers that run royal mail. a days work for a days pay, not more work for less money to make the figures look good so everyone apart from the workers can collect their huge undeserved bonuses.

[Phantom]

Higson is part of the new anti-union board so there is no point talking to him and the rest of the golden handshake brigade, union action needs to be taken until someone with a higher authority makes a move.

[uprising95]

how long do strikes last any idea ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

how long do strikes last any idea ?

depends what type they go for.

[uprising95]

ok just wondered

[steven100]

Its all so well the union on about bullying and harassement etc and other issues that may effect their members. But what about offices that have had the changes happen already and clearly getting bullied to take out walks that are to heavy mail wise and duties that are too long. What are the union going to do about these issues??? Clearly they are trying to stop this for London but what about the rest of the country and this issue. Or maybe it's just become a London issue. 1 - 0 RM maybe.

[pickaname]

Its the "no more changes this year" from Higson that worries me.

CWU call off strikes and negotiate a phantom deal up till Christmas.

RM walk out of talks in January and resume attacks.

Ballot void due to lack of action.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Its all so well the union on about bullying and harassement etc and other issues that may effect their members. But what about offices that have had the changes happen already and clearly getting bullied to take out walks that are to heavy mail wise and duties that are too long. What are the union going to do about these issues??? Clearly they are trying to stop this for London but what about the rest of the country and this issue. Or maybe it's just become a London issue. 1 - 0 RM maybe.

That should be covered by the request for Independent auditors part of the dispute.

[Puppetmaster]

Really liked the union letter thought it was a fair reply and shows up every one wahat RM is.I Fully beleive RM has no plans in my office to do anything till Jan they have been telling us that for some time.
But what happens in JAN not very far away ,we have already got Pegus 2 Walks on paper ,despite being promissed by RM Pegus 1 was final.
Pegus 2 walks just cannot be donne on time ,yet management say these can be done on time.
What happens in Jan if we are unable to complete these new walks on time.Do we loose pay ,leave the job or what?
We must fight RM now and again in my office the reason for striking is so strong,no campaing from CWU Rep ,he did not need to do anyrthing Management actions encourage people to strike,you cannot reason with RM!

So after Pegus 2 will we have 3 and 4 where your round is so big it will take you a week to get round it!! Yet RM will tell you it is only a 4hr walk!!

[uprising95]

what gets to me is lies more than anything

van share duty's suppose to have light bags because of all the walking.
my bags feel like they have 5 breeze blocks in plus packets specials etc etc what has to go in that bag.

that why my hips feel like there 84 years old when im only 24 and my legs are killing and ive only been doing it 3 month.

weather this issue gets sorted who knows

[steven100]

Its all so well the union on about bullying and harassement etc and other issues that may effect their members. But what about offices that have had the changes happen already and clearly getting bullied to take out walks that are to heavy mail wise and duties that are too long. What are the union going to do about these issues??? Clearly they are trying to stop this for London but what about the rest of the country and this issue. Or maybe it's just become a London issue. 1 - 0 RM maybe.

That should be covered by the request for Independent auditors part of the dispute.

I'm not a hundred percent sure because i was on a career break, but the ballot was suspect, two ballots in 48 hours. Plus when pegasus when reviewing our walks, nowt was changed, in fact more hours were needed to be put in was he recommedation. As i've i said it was only here say from people that i work with.