Union 'won't direct postal workers on access letters'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Union ... z2WlT78W7s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A POSTAL workers' union has given an undertaking in the High Court not to induce Royal Mail members to refuse to handle access letters and parcels.

This is pending a further hearing at the High Court on June 28.

As a result, said the Royal Mail, any direction by the Communication Workers' Union that postmen and women should refuse to handle access letters and parcels would be unlawful.

Access mail is mail that has partially sorted by large customers and other postal operators and includes items like bank statements, hospital appointments and energy bills.

Royal Mail delivers them across 29 million homes and businesses for an agreed price.

Bosses said any disruption could result in a significant loss of business.

Royal Mail workers have voted strongly against the UK Government's proposals to privatise the postal group. Of the 112,000 workers who voted — a 74 per cent turnout — 96 per cent rejected the plan, which could see the firm float on the stock exchange next year.

Workers also voted to boycott delivering competitors' mail.

But a Royal Mail statement said: "Any action against access letters and parcels would adversely impact on large numbers of the general public, and the postal industry as a whole by increasing e-substitution.

"It would also severely impact on our business, our reputation and that of our employees."

Royal Mail added that regulator Ofcom said it would intervene if direct delivery competition threatened the financial sustainability of the universal service.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Bosses said any disruption could result in a significant loss of business.
I think that would be the point, would it not, the threat? If RM want to avoid it, they can, by being sensible in their approach in pay deals, modernisation etc.

"It would also severely impact on our business, our reputation and that of our employees."
Yes..... Posties have the bad reputation. Not RM that has increased prices, bullied/harassed staff. No their reputation is fine...
Royal Mail added that regulator Ofcom said it would intervene if direct delivery competition threatened the financial sustainability of the universal service.That remains to be seen and is impossible to prove at this juncture. Regulators hardly have the best track record do they? What about the energy regulator(ofgen?). What have they done about prices and price fixing? Sweet FA.

And would it not depend on the outcome of the court hearing anyway?

[nataddick]

Totally agree with Gremlin.

I believe that the CWU wanted to highlight that Ofcom's response to RM's plea for help in restraining unfair competition fell on deaf ears. The inclusion of this question on the ballot paper was to demonstrate how posties feel about this issue to a wider audience, in particular the current coalition Government and to try to get them to intervene in the dispute. Whether the boycott is legal or illegal is, to some extent irrelevant at this stage in the grand scheme of current IR. If the boycott of DSA is ruled illegal, then CWU still have recourse to a boycott for IA over a variety of workplace issues, which in turn will impact on all mail. RM don't appear to see the train coming !