More postal strikes threat to Christmas post

28/11/2009 at 11:33

You thought it was all over? It isn’t any more.

The head of the postal workers’ union has written to members saying that unless Royal Mail give in to more of his demands, the union “will have no alternative other than to return to strike action before Christmas”.

The letter sent to CWU members says

Royal Mail positioned the agreement as a strike-free Christmas – but they know this is not the terms of the agreement.

At the time the agreement was struck, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who chaired negotiations between the union and RM management, said

The delivery of the terms of this agreement means that Royal Mail services will be free of any disruption up to and through the Christmas period.

and the CWU’s own announcement said

The interim agreement also ensures postal workers will work normally during the Christmas period, ensuring they get the chance to earn extra money.

The union will not need to ballot its members again on strike action, as the previous ballot is still valid: the CWU letter states that “Royal Mail has also accepted that our national and local ballots remain enacted”. Assuming this is correct, the union would simply need to give Royal Mail seven days’ notice of any intended strike. With three weeks to go before the last posting date for first class mail (21st December), there is still plenty of time for disruption.