Crown Post Offices to be balloted for IA.

[NEWS]

POL: PAY AND THE FUTURE OF THE CROWN OFFICE – MEETING WITH ALAN COOK



Further to LTB 403/07, dated 3rd May 2007, Dave Ward, DGS (P), and I met with Alan Cook, Managing Director, POL, on 8th May. The purpose of this meeting was to make absolutely clear our resolve to defend members pay, terms and conditions.

We restated our continued willingness to negotiate with POL on pay and the future of the network but were clear that this could not be based on the principle of a pay cut for 80% of our members and the decision to proceed with the franchising of 85 Crown Offices without an agreement with the CWU.

Despite our best efforts no progress was made at the meeting. Accordingly, we informed Mr Cook that POL’s failure to improve their current position would leave the Union with no alternative but to hold a national ballot for industrial action.

As a result of the above, you are advised that, following Postal Executive endorsement, it is our intention to ballot all members working in Crown Offices for industrial action. The timetable for the ballot is as follows,



* Notice served to Post Office Limited Tuesday 15th May 2007
* Despatch of ballot papers Tuesday 22nd May 2007
* Ballot result declared Thursday 7th June 2007



Preparations are being made for the industrial action ballot, including a full membership verification exercise. In order to campaign to deliver a ‘yes’ vote, branches are instructed, as a matter of priority, to hold membership meetings over the next two weeks. These meetings must be arranged in liaison with appropriate TCRs.