Union releases Royal Mail interim agreement
Union releases Royal Mail interim agreement
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Friday, 06, Nov 2009 12:04
By Sarah Garrod.
The Communication Worker's Union (CWU) has released the interim agreement with Royal Mail which called off strikes yesterday.
The union said the interim agreement contained significant developments and concessions which had emerged in the last few days.
The nationwide postal strikes which were due to take place today and Monday were called off last night. The third round of the industrial action was set to involve 121,000 Royal Mail workers and was due to be the most disruptive of the strike actions yet.
The interim agreement released by the CWU shows postal workers will work normally during the Christmas period, "ensuring they get the chance to earn extra money".
The union said, most importantly, the interim agreement is "very specific on how a full and final agreement will be shaped. It guarantees that Royal Mail will agree change and that workers will get real benefits from the modernisation of the business".
Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "There is no doubt that the strength of support from postal workers in the strikes has made Royal Mail think again. They have made significant concessions this week that are clear for everybody to see. Those concessions have allowed us to suspend strike action and work towards a full and final agreement.
"The union has always been focused on achieving modernisation by consent and now the company has finally acknowledged that is how we must go forward.
"The agreement ensures the imposed change that has led to the bitter local disputes will now be subject to negotiation and agreement. It also deals with with clear up arrangements and discipline but most crucially the interim agreement is clear in shaping the final agreement and the benefits that postal workers can now expect from the future.
"Trust remains an issue between the union and the company but the introduction of an independent chair to continue the negotiations and fortnightly reviews will mean that nobody can walk away from this agreement."
He added the national ballot and all local ballots remain in place.
Workers have been striking over modernisation plans, pay and job losses. The Royal Mail has shed 63,000 frontline postal staff in recent years, and says it needs to cut more jobs as part of continuing modernisation plans.
Following the strikes over the last few weeks there is now a backlog of three million letters. The CWU had threatened to take Royal Mail to court tomorrow to prevent agency workers from being employed during the industrial action.