Royal Mail hits back at CWU ballot

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Royal Mail has described the CWU's consultative ballot as "disappointing" and defended its position on the questions raised by the union.

In a statement, the postal operator said that it was "committed to seeking an agreement with the CWU on the way forward in Royal Mail that equips the business for the future and is fair to our employees".


The statement went on to respond to each of the four questions posed by the CWU to its members in the ballot, point by point.

On the issue of a possible boycott by CWU members of mail from DSA providers, Royal Mail said that it was committed to the delivery of DSA mail and that any disruption to that service would "adversely impact the business, our reputation and that of our employees".

It also highlighted that DSA mail accounted for almost half of the mail it handled and, while previously a loss-making service, it made a profit of £80m after it had been modernised.

Royal Mail also mirrored the concerns of the DM industry by stating that if the Royal Mail didn’t deliver DSA mail its "customers may look for alternatives, including using more email".

However, a Royal Mail spokesman declined to be drawn on what action it would take should the CWU instigate a boycott of DSA mail.

Regarding the potential sale of Royal Mail, it said that as the government had indicated that it had no plans to invest in the postal provider, then a sale or partial sale, with the resulting private-sector backing, offered the best opportunity for Royal Mail to continue its evolution and "secure as many good quality jobs as possible".

It also dismissed any sale representing a threat to its universal service as it was "enshrined in law" and that Ofcom had ruled out any changes to the scope of the universal service.

Ofcom also responded to CWU’s charge that it had ‘no strategy for dealing with end-to-end competition’ referring the union to its previously published guidance.

"We also outlined the steps that could be taken in the event that competition poses a threat to the sustainability of the universal service, which it is our duty to secure. If such a threat emerges, we have clear powers to intervene," added an Ofcom spokesman.

On the final two issues of the CWU’s pay claim and policy of non-co-operation – Royal Mail claimed it was committed to seeking an agreement and wanted to work with the union and its members to make it a more efficient business.

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