Union to discuss possible strike at Northampton RM depot

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/ ... -1-5907380" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Union to discuss possible strike at Northampton Royal Mail depot

Union bosses are discussing a possible ballot for strike action at the mail centre in Swan Valley, Northampton.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has said it will meet next week to decide whether to ballot members.

Gareth Eales, local CWU branch secretary, said: “Managers are refusing to properly engage with the union over a number of longstanding issues, including planned cuts to overtime. In effect Royal Mail are not recognising the union so we need to meet to discuss how to respond.

“If members vote to strike, mail will not be delivered in Leicestershire, Coventry, Warwickshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.”

Mr Eales added: “One of the bosses told us ‘the train is leaving the station, you either get on board or you get left on the platform.’

“They’re saying do what we say, you have no choice.”

Royal Mail said it had not been notified of any possible industrial action.

[SpacePhoenix]

The big question is whether if that strike went ahead it would trigger the bit in bold below:

11
7
Exceptional Circumstances
7.1
The Employer shall be entitled to notify the CWU at any time that any or all of the Protections will no longer continue, if any of the following exceptional circumstances apply:
a)
if Royal Mail ceases to be the designated Universal Service provider;
b)
in circumstances where, the Employer believes on reasonable grounds that continuing the Protection concerned would, or would be likely to, place the company in breach of, or result in the Employer being unable to comply with, any legal or regulatory requirement;
c)
in the event that the Employer believes on reasonable grounds that any part of the business to which a Protection applies has ceased to be, or is likely to cease being, financially sustainable;
d)
in the event that the Employer believes on reasonable grounds that a significant event or series of events has occurred, or is likely to occur that has a material adverse effect, or is reasonably likely to have a materially adverse effect on: (i) the Employer’s business or prospects or (ii) the legal or regulatory basis on which the Employer operates (including but not limited to the Employer's position as the sole Universal Service Provider); or
e)
if there is national
-
scale industrial action (in the form of a strike or action short of a strike) which has been authorised at national level by the CWU, namely industrial action which either (i) involves employees in the majority of operational workplaces across Royal Mail Group Limited; or (ii) involves employees in an integral part of the operation whereby taking action will have, or is reasonably likely to have, a similarly disruptive effect.
7.2
If paragraphs 7.1 (b) and/or 7.1(c) apply to one part of the Company’s business but not to another, the Company’s right to serve notice under paragraph 7.1 shall apply only to the part of the business to which paragraphs 7.1 (b) and/or 7.1(c) apply.
7.3
In the circumstances referred to in paragraph 7.1, the Employer must give notice to the CWU at least one month before the relevant Protection terminates (unless, in the reasonable opinion of the Employer, it is not reasonably practicable to do so) and specify why it is being given and to which of the Protections it applies.

[Sidley]

It's not national level is it?