CWU suspends vote on deal with Royal Mail

A BALLOT of Royal Mail workers on a deal aimed at ending a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions has been suspended by their union.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that it had become clear that the environment it was attempting to deliver the agreement in remained “toxic.”

In a message to members, general secretary Dave Ward and deputy general secretary Andy Furey said the company had not stopped “attacks” against union members in the workplace.

They said the proposed agreement, set against the “most brutal dispute in our history, a self-inflicted but very real financial crisis for the company and jointly agreed need for change,” would secure the future of the company, jobs and the service.

They continued: “However, what has become clear is the environment we are attempting to deliver this agreement in remains toxic.

“Royal Mail Group has not stepped back from their attacks in the workplace. 

“This became more evident when they announced their quality of service results and failed to take any responsibility whatsoever for the disastrous position the company finds itself in.

“Unless Royal Mail Group openly accept that their culture of imposition and the ‘our business to run’ mantra must go — then the integrity of the negotiators agreement will be irreparably damaged.”

The union said that it had made it clear to Royal Mail that unless quality of service is restored and “failed revisions” affecting workers were tackled, the business will not succeed.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “The need to change is critical so that we can improve our quality of service, deliver for our customers and get back to profitability.

“The sooner we can get a positive ballot result the sooner we can give our people the pay rise that we have agreed with the CWU and provide greater job security.”