The CWU negotiating team have dismissed a new pay offer from Royal Mail as being 'nothing more than a futile tactical gesture'. Although the offer is closed, meaning no details can be revealed, it represented such a marginal increase from the previous offer - described as not being worth the paper it was written on - that it was rejected immediately by the union.
At talks last week, the company confirmed that the offer tabled was not their final offer but remained insistent that pay is linked to their unacceptable pension proposal - on which the company have not moved from their original position.
Commenting on the latest set of talks, deputy general secretary Dave Ward indicated that elements of the company's position were beginning to resemble a no strike deal and said: "The union has made it clear that there is no prospect of CWU ever agreeing a no strike deal or their pension proposal."
Further talks are planned with the company saying they are prepared to reach agreement on legally binding protections for CWU members in the event of privatisation.
"But," warns Dave: "There remain differences between the parties over the content and longevity of these legal protections."
Another particular concern for members recently has been the potential impact of Employee Shareholder provisions within the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013.
CWU reps at the Postal Policy Forum on the 1st August voting to go ahead with a national strike ballot if no progress is made in talks."Members have been enquiring about a part of the Act which sets out that, under certain conditions, employees who receive free shares do so on the basis of accepting fewer employment rights," Dave explained.
The union has raised this issue at the highest levels, direct with the Government, with the company and with the CWU's own legal advisors.
"The advice that we have received from all these parties is that the provisions of the Act would not apply in this case," Dave said.
"However, we are aware that there is still some scepticism about whether or not this is the correct interpretation of the Act and the union will continue to check this information with our lawyers."
In terms of frontline workplace issues, the union still has major concerns over what Dave describes as a "massive disconnect between relentless managerial budgets and the reality of daily workload pressures for CWU members.
"We remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement on all outstanding issues but we are now fast approaching the point where a national industrial action ballot will be triggered," he concluded.
If you work for Royal Mail Group and would like to join the CWU simply give us a call on freephone 0800 731 7434 or email joinunion@cwu.org.