Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary
Communication Workers Union
150 The Broadway
Wimbledon
London
SW19 1RX
Dear Dave,
Many thanks for your letter which I received today.
I am very disappointed that you have repeated your threat to hold national strike action. Such a move will further damage customers and can only make the task of reaching agreement on the way forward for this company and its employees more difficult.
What you describe as the ‘CWU peace offer’ does seem to be the opposite - it reads like a list of fresh demands against Royal Mail. This is hardly consistent with your description of it as a way of resolving this dispute peacefully. That said, it is important that I respond to the points you make and re-emphasise the position we have reached in our negotiations because, as you know, we are determined to find a solution for our customers and our people.
For the last two years we have been sharing with you our thoughts on the future strategy of the business as it has evolved. We will continue to involve you in developing our plans and indeed, members of your team are meeting with us today to progress these discussions.
Royal Mail remains completely committed to the 2007 Pay and Modernisation agreement and we have made changes entirely in line with that agreement. This agreement already provides for the introduction of new technology including the introduction of new walk sequencing machines. Our aim is always to achieve agreement with the union on any changes. Your letter seems to suggest, however, that the CWU demands the right of veto over any change. Clearly that is not in line with our long standing agreed industrial relations framework and nor would any company accept such a demand.
Where local changes to staffing levels are necessary, our proposals are always based on workload - not arbitrary budget decisions. We agree that these proposals should be based on transparency of data and have been discussing with you how we can give people more confidence in this area.
Throughout the late summer you promised a moratorium on strikes in return for a period of no efficiency changes. I announced two weeks ago that there would be no more efficiency changes this year yet you have failed to honour your promise to call off strike action - and indeed you have since called strikes in over 150 delivery offices. As we have repeatedly discussed, the agreed Industrial Relations Framework provides an opportunity for both sides to review how any change has been implemented and we are, of course, happy to move forward in line with this agreement. Again I urge you to honour the Industrial Relations Framework and honour your promise to call off strikes - starting with tomorrow’s strikes in London.
I reject any suggestion that there is widespread bullying and harassment of our people and we have asked you many times to let us have any examples or evidence that you may have on this important subject so we can thoroughly investigate them through our established process. As you know, we have a zero tolerance approach in this area.
The Government tabled a proposal earlier this year which would have addressed the issues of regulation, the pension deficit and access to capital for the company. For its own reasons (and we believe against its members interests) the CWU campaigned against this proposal which would have seen the Government underwrite the pension benefits our people have built up. This package of solutions is no longer available and we are focused on working with the Pension Trustee on addressing this serious problem and are also working with Postcomm on establishing a better relationship going forward to ensure that the Universal Service Obligation is protected at all costs.
As regards your aspirations for improved job security and benefits arrangements, the only way to build job security is through a strong modernised Royal Mail, free from strike action and providing the service our customers deserve. Under the 2007 agreement we jointly committed to look at job security and benefits in Phase 4. We are currently engaged with your team on a regular basis to take forward these discussions, however your current action is seriously damaging the possibility of doing this successfully.
As you know we share the view that our future working relationship could benefit from the involvement of a third party to help us improve the long term management of change together and this is something we should explore further.
There are already further talks arranged for this week and we are, of course, available for those and to discuss the future issues over the next few months.
Given our response and your promise of a moratorium on strike action, I assume you will now call off all strike action including those scheduled for London tomorrow and can assure you that my team are looking forward to meeting with you to resolve the issues.
Yours sincerely
Mark Higson
Managing Director, Royal Mail Letters
