Talks between Royal Mail and union representatives are reported to have intensified this weekafter the Communication Workers Union (CWU) yesterday announced that strike action would begin next
Monday unless an agreement is reached between the two parties.Following three days of negotiations last week aimed at preventing threatened strike action atthe UK postal operator, talks are scheduled for every day this week. The CWU said that if noagreement is reached by the end of the week, there would be a 24-hour strike on 4 November thatwould affect all non-managerial functions in Royal Mail and Parcelforce.
The CWU said it would be the first national strike since 2009 and would hit deliveries,collections and other mail operations such as sorting, logistics and call-centre functions. UnderUK laws a trade union must give at least seven days’ notice of any industrial action.
The CWU is seeking an agreement on pay, job security and terms and conditions in thenewly-privatised company, which this month completed the first stage of a flotation on the LondonStock Exchange of more than half of its shares. The union said that regardless of who owned RoyalMail, it would “protect the interests of workers”.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward, who is leading the negotiations with Royal Mail,commented: “It’s important that we secure a legally-binding, lasting agreement which will tacklethe big issues facing postal workers in their work lives. There’s a lot of concern about jobsecurity since privatisation and it’s that as well as pay and addressing the outlook of the companythat we’re tackling in these talks.”
CWU balloted 115,000 members in Royal Mail group and Parcelforce working in non-managerial jobsincluding deliveries, drivers, sorting staff, admin and support grades, with 78% of thoseparticipating voting in favour of strike action. Strike action is due to take place all day onMonday 4 November, with members going on strike at the beginning of their normal duty and notreturning to work until their next normal day of work from Tuesday 5 November.
Despite the threat of strike action, Royal Mail’s share price hit a high of £5.67 (€6.62) at onestage yesterday – more than 70% above the launch price of shares of £3.30. Its share price openedtoday at £5.48 but had fallen by around 1% to £5.43 by midday GMT.
