Royal Mail's plans to recruit 30,000 temporary staff

[skyman]

Union leaders are furious with Royal Mail's plans to recruit 30,000 temporary staff to cope with strikes by postal workers and the Christmas rush.

The CWU has invited Royal Mail to talks to avert the stoppages



The company, which faces two national strikes this week, said it was hiring twice the number of extra staff it usually takes on in the run-up to the festive season.

The Communication Workers Union accused it of being more interested in "sidelining" the views of its staff than resolving the bitter row over modernisation, jobs and pay.

Royal Mail said as well as dealing with the extra Christmas post, it wanted to offset the impact on customers of the CWU's "unjustified and irresponsible" strikes.

Chief executive Adam Crozier said: "We are continuing to urge the union to halt its appalling and unjustified attack on customers.

"At the same time, we are absolutely determined to do everything we can to minimise delays to customers' mail, especially in the run-up to Christmas."

Royal Mail managing director, Mark Higson, added: "The CWU's announcement of strike action has again shown just how dishonest its claim to embrace the need for modernisation is.



Lord Mandelson: 'Strikes are suicide'

A CWU spokesman said: "We're disappointed that Royal Mail appears to be more interested in sidelining the views and concerns of its staff than reaching an agreement to bring this dispute to an end.

"Instead of spending vast sums of money on untrained temporary workers we urge the Royal Mail to engage with talks to reach an agreement to get the permanent staff back to work."

National strikes will be held by different groups of Royal Mail workers next Thursday and Friday, with further walkouts threatened unless the deadlock is broken.

Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has described the action as "suicidal".

He said: "They will send the most terrible message to the Royal Mail's customers."

Small firms have told Sky News they fear the proposed strikes could put some of them out of business.

[skyman]

Good luck lads but by doing this it looks like they have snookered you!!!!!!
it looks like the royal mail will hold there ground and the same as the cwu,
who will give in???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[hantsman]

Good luck lads but by doing this it looks like they have snookered you!!!!!!
it looks like the royal mail will hold there ground and the same as the cwu,
who will give in???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Skyman, you don't seem to have much knowledge about the reasons behind the vote to strike? I have looked at all your posts they seem all the same!

[piranha]

30,000 temporary staff cannot do 60,000 + peoples work and isn't that illegal to employ someone to cover our work whilst on official industrial action? :mfo :cfo

[Stumpy]

Wonder what sort of checks are carried out on these 30,000 temporary workers and dare I say it, I wonder how many will be able to speak English.

I have a feeling items lost in the post may suddenly be on the increase.

A round of applause for the one and only --- Adam Crozier ---- NOT

[skyman]

hantsman
i do seem to have the knowledge on why your going on strike i have family and friends in the job and i used to be a postie and a cwu rep until i got stitched up by the management at high level,
if you want to question me feel free to pm

[jojojo]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20091018/tu ... 23e80.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


cwu may challenge the RM due to illegal practices