NATIONAL DISPUTE NEWS - Update 21st August

Dave Ward writing in LTB730/09 on 21st August, updates Branches on the national postal dispute situation:

Following a recent letter to Mark Higson, Managing Director of Royal Mail, outlining a number of positive steps which would help resolve the current dispute; the Union received a response last night.

With regard to our definitive proposal for more intensive national negotiations we have been told the company will be in touch with a timetable for talks to commence next week. This has not yet happened.

In respect of our offer for both parties to seek the support of external independent experts to assess what constitutes fair workload, the Managing Director has chosen to completely ignore this point. This is very revealing. It is becoming increasingly obvious that Royal Mail’s workload measuring systems are heavily influenced by unrealistic budget demands rather than what people can actually cope with. It is also obvious that Royal Mail are afraid to expose these systems to any independent or objective analysis. Instead, it would appear, they want to continue with chaos management.

Similarly, the Managing Director does not support any independent enquiry into the managerial bullying and intimidation of postal workers.

The Union does not accept Royal Mail’s position on these issues and will continue to pursue the assistance of independent expertise to facilitate a resolution to some of the serious problems we are facing in the industry.

Once we have received a definitive response from Royal Mail about intensifying negotiations we will let branches know. In the meantime, it is essential that all branches intensify their efforts to hold meetings with our members and continue to explain that the issues in this dispute are fundamental to their future.

Campign News