Talks to avert first nationwide postal strike since privatisation enter crucial phase as Royal Mail prepares to unveil big jump in profits

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mar ... stage.html

Talks to avert the first nationwide postal strike since privatisation have entered a crucial phase as Royal Mail prepares to unveil a big jump in profits.

The 500-year-old company is locked in an increasingly high-stakes pay dispute with the union representing its 115,000 members.

Talks: Royal Mail is locked in an increasingly high-stakes pay dispute with the union representing its 115,000 members

Talks: Royal Mail is locked in an increasingly high-stakes pay dispute with the union representing its 115,000 members

Royal Mail also wants posties to work Sundays to compete with the likes of Amazon and DPD as part of plans to modernise the service.

The delivery giant has put forward a pay increase of up to 3.5 per cent for this year, including backdated pay and an additional rise when negotiations conclude.


It is also offering a new 'above-and-beyond' bonus, worth up to 2 per cent, for staff who hit productivity targets

But the offer, 5.5 per cent if targets are met, is opposed by the Communication Workers Union (CWU). It wants a 'no strings' pay rise in line with inflation – now estimated to hit 10 per cent by the end of this year.


The Mail on Sunday has learned the two sides have entered into a formal 'dispute resolution process' to try to reach a deal.

If no agreement is found by the end of this month, the CWU says it will call a strike ballot. A strike would be the first in almost a decade. Union sources say the talks are currently 'deadlocked'.

Royal Mail – privatised in three stages between 2013 and 2015 – is expected to give an update on negotiations this Thursday when it announces results.

Analysts forecast full-year profits of around £720million, up from £664million the previous year.

[meako]

As usual sweet FA about the " Strings " that Royal Mail want to implement !

[Chelseablue]

The union need to at last tell the public whats really happening in our offices daily, and why they are not getting there important mail etc .

[richietns]

Todays journalism is s**t as we'll as the unions PR I agree Chelsea do they not contact these tabloids when s**t like this is wrote.

[mw7485]

Once again the union have failed to own the narrative with this situation. They never, ever get ahead of the curve and get a press release out immediately (and before RM) that gives their side of the story in a way the public can understand and get behind. Given that it was the union who initiated the resolution process, they really should have had something ready to go the minute they triggered the process. We will never win these disputes (assuming that is where we are headed) unless the public are behind us, and the public won't get behind us if they don't understand the problem. I despair of the CWU.

[Chelseablue]

Its not rocket science , inform the public why were in a mess etc

[derekm]

Said this before about the unions p.r. And getting our side of the story out. We always get tarred as being greedy or militant posties at it again, nothing about greedy company wanting to strip us of t&c,s to give more to share holders and offering a pittance for it.

[guardianangel]

To be fair we should of had 2 or 3 since privatisation but the union have let them off the hook and this is why we have arrived in this situation.

[crimson king]

Isn't it more a case of the right leaning press not being interested in the Union standpoint and not reporting anything other than the agreed capatilstic agenda?