Post Office strikes called off as talks bring progress

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A joint statement issued by the CWU and the Post Office establishes the foundations for further negotiations with the aim of resolving the long-running dispute by the end of January 2014 and to this end all planned strike action (and action short of a strike) has been called off.

Progress made in intensive negotiations has been "encouraging" said assistant secretary Andy Furey, adding: "We are optimistic that this joint statement will ultimately lead to an agreement.

"This dispute has not been easy on our members in Crown Post Offices and Supply Chain functions who have continually shown unity and strength on picket lines around the country.

"It is as a result of their resolute determination that we've made such positive progress in talks. There is still a long way to go but we will continue to pursue a satisfactory conclusion and use the Christmas and New Year break to prepare for the negotiations and to reflect on what a good agreement would look like from our members' perspective," said Andy.

Negotiations recommence on Wednesday, 8th January.

Joint Statement on CWU-Post Office Talks

The Post Office and CWU are pleased we have made substantial progress in our talks to establish a mutually agreeable way forward for Crowns, Admin and Supply Chain. We want to resolve these disputes and reach an agreement by the end of January 2014.

Talks to date have focused on establishing common ground on pay, transformation, and the future of the Crown network and Supply Chain operation. This has involved detailed analysis of the transformation programme to get the Crowns to breakeven and the future Supply Chain strategy. We have also worked together and identified further opportunities for income generation and savings to create the headroom needed to fund consolidated and pensionable pay increases.

We are now in a position to commit the necessary time and resources to a second phase of negotiations which will start in the first full week of the New Year. In order to provide a positive backdrop to these discussions, the CWU will not call any industrial action from now until the end of January 2014.

Looking forward, we share an ambition to create a vibrant and sustainable Crown network that enables opportunities for growth, enhanced job security, improved reward and excellent working conditions. Whilst this is our joint objective we do not underestimate the scale of the challenge.

We will be focusing all our efforts on the talks and will continue to do everything we can to find a resolution. We will update you on developments when we have progress to report in the New Year.

Kevin Gilliland, Network and Sales Director, Post Office

Andy Furey, assistant secretary, Communication Workers Union

Cancellation of Strike Action

The following strike action (including action short of a strike) previously notified to the Post Office, has been cancelled:

Crowns

South region - from 3pm this afternoon, and all day tomorrow as well as Tuesday 24th December from the commencement of duties until 12.30pm.

Sales boycott with immediate effect

Admin & Supply Chain

Tuesday 24th December - all day

[Red Robbo]

Crown Offices to close then ?

[Chitchat]

Wonder if there get a ground breaking deal like us