04/12/2013

Christmas Royal Mail Strike Called Off

A deal has been reached between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) that could see a proposed strike over the Christmas period called off.

The industrial action was being considered by the CWU over pay, stability and pensions.

The proposed agreement will now be considered by the executive of the union before being balloted on by the union's membership. However, the CWU said there would be no industrial action during the ratification process of the proposed deal.

The threat of strike action followed the privatisation of the Royal Mail, which a majority of CWU members opposed. The union believes that shares were offered to its members as a means to placate worries of reorganisation within the company.

The union said in a statement to its members: "As the company has been prepared for privatisation, you have already seen relentless budget cuts, job losses and an increase in variable workloads. The next step would be for a new employer to focus on your employment model - franchising, variable contracts or zero hours. We must secure an agreement that protects your terms and conditions and fight back against a race to the bottom with competitors in the postal sector."

The CWU represents 250,000 people in postal, telecommunications and finanical services industries in the UK.

(IT/CD)

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