Ballot papers are being dispatched today (Friday) to almost 4,000 Crown Office staff in a dispute over pay and job security.
National official Andy Furey is urging members to vote yes, saying: "The Post Office's actions are simply a race to the bottom. Voting yes is the only way to convince the Post Office to improve their offer on pay and stop their ludicrous franchising plans.
The decision to ballot for industrial action follows an "appalling" pay offer from the Post Office that not only represented a loss in real terms for members but was also conditional on members signing up to the Post Office's transformation plan - a plan that will see some 70 Crown Offices franchised, plus a further six actually being closed, putting over 770 jobs at risk.
"All we are seeking for our Crown members is parity with other Post Office workers represented by the CWU," said Andy.
"Crown members are owed a consolidated, pensionable pay increase from April 2012. If the Post Office can find £11m for subpostmasters, who no-one would argue, deserve bettter pay too; then it should be able to reward its frontline staff in Crown Offices, who generate significant sales and income. Equally, our Supply Chain / Admin members have received a consolidated pay increase for 2012 and they are due to receive a further 3.25% from 1st April 2013."
A phone poll conducted by The Campaign Company indicated 92% of respondents were supportive of the union's stance on pay and job security, whilst just over 90% wanted the Union to continue to press for fairness in pay.
Commenting on the poll, Andy said: "As these results indicate there is a lot of support amongst members who are disillusioned with a company that puts such an abysmal pay offer on the table yet pays its chief executive an overall package of £0.5m in 2011/12. It's ludicrous but the only way they will listen is if we secure a decent YES vote for strike action."
Concluding, Andy urged all members: "Please vote YES."
Ballot timetable:
Ballot Papers Dispatched - Friday 22nd February
Ballot Papers Returned - Friday 8th March