AN UPDATE FOR ROYAL MAIL GROUP MEMBERS

17th March 2023

 

The only place for us to start is by recognising the huge pressure you are under in the workplace – both because of unachievable revisions and the continued targeting of CWU members and representatives. The situation is untenable, and we know it cannot continue. If Royal Mail do not step back, then the Postal Executive will act to defend our members.

 

There is no prospect of us reaching an agreement with the employer unless we can urgently alleviate the pressure out in the field – including achieving justice for members and representatives who have been outrageously targeted.

 

Alongside these attacks, Royal Mail’s finances are worsening by the day. This is a direct result of the mismanagement of the company – something laid bare in brutal terms by today’s report from the Select Committee. What we cannot accept is the same people who took the company into this crisis dictating how we come out of it.

 

Our representatives at all levels have been working incredibly hard to uphold the integrity of the recent joint statement but at the same time tactics are being deployed by an out-of-control senior management team under the mantra “our business to run”. If the Board want an agreement, they must intervene not just in the negotiations – but also to end the relentless attacks on our members.

 

With these huge issues in the background the negotiations have been extremely difficult. We are discussing pay, change and the very future of the company. There is enough in the talks to warrant continuing them. What we must now do is bring them to a conclusion – one way or the other.

 

On this basis, the CWU are currently analysing the key differences between the two parties and putting forward a clear view to the company on how we resolve them. This process will continue over the weekend.

 

Board level negotiations will continue next week and both parties recognise we are at a crunch point.

 

Next week we will also undertake a series of engagement initiatives across the union including:

 

  • An online briefing of our Branches and Senior Representatives
  • An online briefing for our Local Representatives
  • A CWU Live event for our members

 

We want to reach an agreement and we are committed to ending their mantra that is destroying the livelihoods of postal workers and the service to the public. Next week will be critical to the outcome of this dispute.

 

Stand by your local rep. Stand by your union. Stand by each other.

 

In solidarity,

 

Dave Ward

General Secretary

 

Andy Furey

Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)