RM proposals rejected by union as pensions come under attack

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Royal Mail pay proposals rejected by union as pensions come 'under attack'

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The Communications Workers Union has rejected Royal Mail’s proposals, labelling them “misleading and unacceptable”.

Royal Mail offered an 8.6% rise in basic pay over three years but the union said that workers’ pensions were under attack.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Postal workers want more security; what's on offer is less. With privatisation looming, the protections Royal Mail have put on offer are not worth the paper they're written on. Our members clearly voted - by a huge 99% - for a pay rise without strings attached yet the company ignores them.

"Only a year ago the government and Moya Greene promised postal workers that their pensions were secure - now they have reneged on their promise and postal workers' pensions are again under attack. For the company to present this as some kind of benefit linked to a pay offer is scandalous.

“This is daylight robbery of a further £2 billion of pension scheme assets being used to subsidise privatisation. CWU is seeking a parliamentary enquiry and a review of the European state aid settlement.

"The pay rise is only there as a sweetener to swallow some very bitter pills on damaging changes to pensions, and a raft of workplace uncertainty. The deal that they've spun in their press release is not the real deal. Postal workers will know that.”

The offer had included keeping the Royal Mail pension plan open to existing members, subject to certain conditions.

Moya Greene, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Mail Group, said: “Cooperation is central to the future success of the company. This offer represents Royal Mail’s commitment to a long-term engagement strategy with the CWU and with our people.

“We have already built a stronger Royal Mail together through closer cooperation and trust in recent years. We are now offering a new long-term agreement with the CWU and our employees.

“This is a good deal – good for Royal Mail and good for our people. We are asking the CWU and our people to accept this new agreement. There will be further discussions this week with the CWU about the proposed agreement.”