Union votes to press ahead with strike ballot of postal workers

Postal workers’ leaders have decided to hold a national strike ballot if no agreement is made over jobs, pensions and other issues linked to the Government’s controversial plans to privatise the Royal Mail.
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Around 500 Communication Workers Union (CWU) representatives voted unanimously to press ahead with a strike ballot of 115,000 Royal Mail workers, no later than next month, if “satisfactory agreements” are not reached.

It will be the first ballot for national industrial action in Royal Mail since September 2009 and represents a major challenge to the Government’s plans.

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The union said it wanted to secure job protection as well as maintain pay, pensions and conditions and stop any worsening of postal services.

Deputy general secretary Dave Ward said he thought it was “inevitable” a ballot would be held.

Mr Ward revealed plans for a national day of action in support of postal services and against privatisation which could include a 24-hour strike.

He warned that selling Royal Mail would “damage” services and hit jobs, pay and conditions.

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And he accused the Government of “completely misleading” the public over privatisation, saying it was clear postal workers and the general public were against the plans.

“When they try to suggest that the postal industry has problems dealing with new technology and the digital age, they are talking nonsense,” he told a special CWU conference in London.

“Workers have embraced modernisation, and helped increase profits by 60 per cent, so why should we just hand it over to someone only interested in making money?

“We have a duty to defend the postal service – and we will.”

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Mr Ward said the coming months will also be a “pivotal moment” for the trade union movement as other unions are called on to support the CWU campaign.

Mr Ward said: “The current situation cannot go on. Postal workers are being squeezed in their workplaces, facing an uncertain future and changes to their pensions. There hasn’t yet been a pay rise for staff this year despite healthy company profits of £403m.

“But most importantly, we want protections for job security and terms and conditions and these are sadly lacking.

“CWU is committed to holding serious negotiations with Royal Mail to achieve settlement on these issues, but efforts to date do not bode well.

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“We do not take the decisions to hold a strike ballot lightly.However, we will stop at nothing to ensure the future of our members’ jobs – and of the services they deliver – are protected.”

Mr Ward said he believed it was possible to stop the sale of Royal Mail, maintaining the Government was worried about the union’s response.

He added the ballot timetable could be brought forward if the Royal Mail presses ahead with “scandalous” proposals on pensions.

“We cannot sit back. We want an agreement to shape the future of this company.”

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The ballot will include whether to boycott post delivered by Royal Mail for rival companies such as UK Mail and TNT, which makes up a huge part of the daily postbag.

A boycott would leave over 20 million items undelivered each day, including bills and bank statements.

Royal Mail said it was “disappointed” at the decision, adding: “We believe that a ballot on strike action is inappropriate. Disrupting the service Royal Mail provides to its customers is not helpful.

“Royal Mail operates in a very competitive market, especially in the parcels market. We recognise that customers have a choice and can move their business very quickly. We want to reach agreement with the CWU as soon as possible to give customers and employees continued stability.”

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A Department for Business spokesman said: “It’s very disappointing that the CWU has voted to hold a national ballot for industrial action. We encourage the union to continue talking to Royal Mail management in order to achieve settlement on the issues they are concerned about.”