LTB 738/16 Post Office Dispute

No. 738/2016

15th December 2016

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleague,

Post Office Dispute

The purpose of this LTB is to update CWU Branches, Representatives and members on developments in the Post Office dispute.

As outlined in LTB 734/2016, the union yesterday made a concrete and substantial proposal to the Post Office for a period of structured talks on the key issues in dispute including the future vision for Supply Chain. As part of this the union offered to refrain from taking industrial action, in exchange for the Post Office agreeing to suspend its proposals for Crown franchising, in order to allow for meaningful talks to take place, inclusive of pensions.

Following a genuine offer from the union to suspend strike action and find a mutually acceptable way forward the Post Office has today rejected our proposal and instead offered to meet the union to provide us with details of its strategy in January. We regard this response as wholly unacceptable and will therefore be continuing with the industrial action that has been announced for next week.

In light of these developments, we would urge all Branches and Representatives to support the action and our members in the Post Office. In particular we would ask Branches to ensure that there is a visible presence outside Crown Offices and treat this as a priority commitment.

Attached to this LTB is a copy of the union’s press release which has been published today and this should be used as a guide for engaging with members of the public and any local media over the next week. We would ask Branches to circulate this to all Post Office members.

Any queries on the contents of this LTB should be directed to hnutley@cwu.org in the DGS (P) Department.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward Terry Pullinger Andy Furey
General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (P) Assistant Secretary