Christmas gift arrivals 'could be hit by any RM strike

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Christmas gift arrivals 'could be hit by any Royal Mail strike', union warns

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... it-6195388" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Welsh Royal Mail workers handed £20m in shares could opt for a series of strikes in the run up to Christmas that may see presents arriving late, a union leader has warned.

Regional secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in Wales Gary Watkins admitted the union wants to maximise the impact of any walkouts – meaning festive strikes are a “possibility”.

Across the UK newly-privatised Royal Mail face the prospect of a national strike on November 4 by more than 100,000 postal workers amid continuing controversy over the “scramble” to sell off the company.

And in the absence of an agreement further strikes seem inevitable.

The CWU balloted around 115,000 of its members for industrial action over issues linked to the sell-off, including pay and pensions. Up to 78% voted in favour of a strike on a turnout of 63% or 71,913.

The union, which will have to give seven days notice of a walkout, has accused the Government of “deliberately creating a scramble” for shares, leading to many private investors cashing in their allocation at a big profit.

The union is also announcing a new ballot that will enable postal workers to boycott competitors’ mail, to supplement the strike action.

Mr Watkins said: “Hypothetically we could stay within the law if we said we were going to take industrial action two days a week for every week up until Christmas and give the dates."

And Mr Watkins admitted families hunting online bargains in the run up to the festive period could end up seeing their gifts arriving after the big day.

Free shares in Royal Mail worth almost £20m were awarded to 5,500 employees across Wales as part of the sell off.

Eligible staff were entitled to 725 free shares with an initial market value of £3,545.25 that can’t be sold for three years.

Mr Watkins insisted there was no hypocrisy in striking over privatisation while accepting free shares.

He said CWU members are “ordinary working people” who, though they disagree with the sell off, cannot afford the luxury of turning down £3,545.

As formal trading started on the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday shares gained 15p, or 3%, making them almost 50% more valuable than the Government’s price last week.

In the first day of dealing shares were up to 490p to value Royal Mail at £4.9bn.

That compares with the 330p per share price they were sold for by the Government on Thursday, which valued the group at £3.3bn.

The share surge sparked further anger about public assets being sold too cheaply.

Royal Mail has offered staff a basic pay rise of 2.6%, plus a lump sum of £300 which would not be added to their pensionable pay.

Should inflation remain at its current 2.7% in real terms this would amount to a pay cut, though Royal Mail say with the lump sum added the deal is worth 3.7%.

The firm says it’s offered a pay deal of 8.6% over three years that would also see “frontline operational” jobs protected.

The firm’s chief executive Moya Greene, who last year saw her pay and benefits rise by around 33% to £1.5m, has vowed that anyone going on strike will not get the lump sum.

Criticism of her pay deal saw Ms Greene forced to hand back £120,000 she was given towards the cost of buying a house in Britain after relocating from Canada when UK Business Secretary Vince Cable objected to the package.

Reports also suggest Royal Mail recently allowed Ms Greene to raid £280,000 from her pension pot despite previously stating she could only get the money when she left the company.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said on a 63% turnout the majority of the union membership (51%) chose to vote against strike action or abstain.

A spokesperson added: “In addition, taking into account frontline employees who are not union members (24,000), only 40.5% have backed a strike.”

[Lincox]

Tell that spokesperson that 72% of the public and 96% of Royal Mail Employees rejected privatisation but they still went ahead with it, so lets head for the gates on the 4th and support the public who supported us and fight for our jobs, families, work comrades and show Cameron and his a.sl.ck.rs that we are far from a spent force and will only go kicking and squealing. Support the People against austerity day of action on 5th November as well.

[Godric]

Tell that spokesperson that 72% of the public and 96% of Royal Mail Employees rejected privatisation but they still went ahead with it, so lets head for the gates on the 4th and support the public who supported us and fight for our jobs, families, work comrades and show Cameron and his a.sl.ck.rs that we are far from a spent force and will only go kicking and squealing. Support the People against austerity day of action on 5th November as well.