CWU serves notice for Royal Mail strike

from http://www.cwu.org/

28th October 2013

CWU has today (Monday) served formal notice for strike action in Royal Mail for Monday 4 November. Under UK laws a trade union must give at least seven days' notice of any industrial action. 

Talks are continuing between CWU and Royal Mail as the union seeks an agreement on pay, job security and terms and conditions in the newly-privatised company. Talks are scheduled for every day this week, in addition to the three days which took place last week. If no agreement is reached by the end of the week then 24 hour strike action on 4 November will affect all non-managerial functions in Royal Mail and Parcelforce. It will be the first national strike since 2009 and would hit deliveries, collections and other mail operations such as sorting, logistics and call centre functions. 

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, is leading the negotiations with Royal Mail. "Our members have clearly spoken that they care more about their jobs than they do about shares" he said. "It's important that we secure a legally-binding, lasting agreement which will tackle the big issues facing postal workers in their work lives. 

"There's a lot of concern about job security since privatisation and it's that as well as pay and addressing the outlook of the company that we're tackling in these talks. Regardless of who owns this company, CWU will be here to protect the interests of workers who literally deliver the service." 

Postal workers voted by four to one (78%) in favour of strike action in a ballot announced on 16 October. CWU balloted 115,000 members in Royal Mail group and Parcelforce working in non-managerial jobs including deliveries, drivers, sorting staff, admin and support grades. Strike action is due to take place all day on Monday 4 November 2013 with members going on strike at the beginning of their normal duty and not returning to work until their next normal day of work starting on Tuesday 5 November.