CWU Offers ACAS As Strikes Confirmed

Following the receipt of a letter from Mark Higson, Royal Mail managing director, today (Wednesday) the Communication Workers Union is left with no option but to continue with planned strike action for Thursday and Friday this week. CWU again offers unconditional talks at ACAS.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “We’re very disappointed that despite extensive talks with the Royal Mail, the company has dismissed our offers to resolve the dispute.

“It appears, as revealed in the leaked Royal Mail document which was in the media last week, that Royal Mail has no intention of resolving this dispute. The company seems intent on sidelining the concerns of postal workers.

“We were making progress and believed that we could reach an agreement until Mark Higson’s letter wiped out any chance of that. His letter pulls back from change by agreement which is at the heart of this dispute.

“We are now offering unconditional talks at ACAS next week, as offered many times in the past weeks. We sincerely hope that Royal Mail will take us up on that open offer of unconditional talks.

“Comments by Lord Mandelson and others have not helped the negotiations which were difficult to start with. We believe government has a constructive role to play in resolving the dispute. We also urge Mark Higson to get his hands dirty and get involved in resolving this dispute as he has so far not been present at any negotiations.”

Dave Ward’s letter of reply to Mark Higson:

Dear Mark

Your letter of today’s date completely misrepresents the facts surrounding this dispute.  We can only assume this is a deliberate ploy on your part.

Your negotiating team has accepted that at the heart of this dispute is the need for us to reach a National Agreement on issues that are fundamental to the future of the business, our customers and every single employee.  However, at every opportunity you seem to want to contradict their position. 

I have reached the conclusion that there is no prospect of us resolving this dispute whilst you are able to sit on the sidelines and veto any progress made in negotiations. 

You must accept that you need to get your hands dirty and get involved in these negotiations. 

The company’s dishonest stance has left the Union with no alternative other than to press ahead with national strike action.  Furthermore, in line with the statutory legal requirements the Union will be notifying you of further planned strike action later this week. 

In the meantime, I am restating the Union’s offer of third party mediation - without any pre-conditions - to be facilitated by ACAS.

I am available to meet you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (P)

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