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Post talks yet to deliver

19/10/2007

Talks between postal union leaders and Royal Mail are set to continue, with negotiations yet to deliver a resolution to an ongoing pay and jobs row.

A meeting between the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Royal Mail bosses adjourned yesterday, with no indication on whether the two sides are near to reaching a deal.

Earlier in the day postal workers in Liverpool voted to end a wildcat strike which began last Wednesday and caused disruption to mail services in Merseyside throughout the week.

Postal workers in various parts of the country staged unofficial walkouts last week, in protest at changes to their working hours. The wildcat strikes followed the end of an official 48-hour walkout organised by the CWU.

Earlier this week the CWU called off additional strike action in light of ongoing discussions by its executive about whether to accept a deal offered by Royal Mail over pay and conditions for its workers.

Union leaders began considering the outline agreement on Monday, with the document drawn up after last week's marathon talks between the organisation and Royal Mail bosses.

The CWU said that its latest meeting with Royal Mail chiefs was being held in order to "clarify the remaining outstanding issues" the union has in regard to its dispute with the postal service provider.

Royal Mail confirmed earlier this week that it had agreed to the meeting but added: "The agreement reached and endorsed last Friday by CWU general secretary Billy Hayes and deputy general secretary Dave Ward stands."

If the CWU accepts the deal negotiated by its leaders the 130,000 members of the union employed by the postal service will be invited to vote on the proposals.

Unconfirmed reports claim that the deal proposed by Royal Mail includes a 6.9 per cent pay rise over two years and consultation on pension reform.

Previously the CWU had refused to accept a pay offer for postal workers, on the grounds that it contained "unacceptable strings" - including a reduction in pensions benefits.

The union also attacked Royal Mail's modernisation plan, which it said could result in the loss of 40,000 jobs.