CHRISTMAS STRIKE GOES AHEAD AFTER POST OFFICE REFUSE UNION OFFER

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CHRISTMAS STRIKE GOES AHEAD AFTER POST OFFICE REFUSE UNION OFFER

The CWU has confirmed that next week’s strike action in the long running dispute with the Post Office will go ahead following the rejection of a union proposal for a structured period of negotiations which would have avoided next week’s strike action.

The unions proposal offered to suspend strike action in exchange for the company suspending its Post Office closure / franchising programme in order for meaningful negotiations to take place.

5 days of strike action, including 3 from Crown Post Offices across the Country, which handle over 20% of the total Post Office traffic daily, will now go ahead, as scheduled. The dispute will impact on over 300 workplaces with 3,500 employees involved.

Responding to this development, CWU General Secretary, Dave Ward said “I say to customers that the CWU made a genuine offer to resolve next week’s action and this was rejected without any serious consideration by the company. Our proposal is entirely reasonable and calls for both parties to step back to allow for meaningful negotiations to be undertaken. The rejection of our offer demonstrates they intend to press on regardless with a closure / franchise programme that will mean the the Post Office will cease to exist in the High Streets of Britain. We cannot and will not sit back and allow this to happen. Their rejection of our offer will signify the start of a prolonged campaign to save the Post Office.”

CWU Deputy General Secretary, Terry Pullinger said “Our members and this union have tried everything possible to resolve the dispute. The latest response from the Post Office is bitterly disappointing and an indication that the employer is determined on forcing through their plans irrespective of the concerns of the customers, staff and the union. The response we have received from the public has been one of massive support for our efforts to protect this highly cherished service and we are determined to not allow it to slip from our High Streets via death from a thousand cuts.”

In addition to the strike, the CWU will handover tens of thousands of postcards, signed by members of the public calling for the Post Office to halt their closure programme, to the government on Monday morning. This will take place at 11:00 at BEIS, Victoria Street. This event is open to the media.

ENDS