Royal Mail workers call off strike
A Royal Mail workers' strike by the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) due to take place in Plymouth and around the rest of the country on Monday (4 November), has been called off after significant progress in talks between the two sides over pay and pensions.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday (30 October), the Royal Mail and the CWU said they are committed to finalising an agreement in the next two weeks which will include the following:-
- Legal protections for employees that extend beyond the current three year offer.
- An improved pay and reward offer.
- A separate pensions agreement.
- An agenda for growth underpinned by a culture of consensual change, timely decision making and industrial stability supported by alternative dispute resolution processes.
- An agreed approach to aligning resourcing to workload with a resolution to any current workload and resourcing issues.
- An overview of the future parcels and letters strategy.
- A joint company/CWU charter shaping the ongoing values and principles of the Royal Mail Group.
- An ongoing operational programme of work.
- The individual elements outlined above will only be deemed agreed when everything is agreed.
The CWU has agreed to stand down the 24-hour strike planned for the 4 November.
Royal Mail has agreed to extend the legal validity of the current industrial action ballot until 20 November.
Both parties say they will clear diaries to ensure all efforts are focused on reaching an agreement by the 13 November.
The walkout would have been the first national strike at Royal Mail in four years.
The Royal Mail was privatised earlier this month. Staff were offered free shares in the company as part of the flotation.
