IOM Postal Workers Don't Want Strike But Want To Be Heard

Union chiefs have pledged to be open-minded in pay negotiations with Post Office management, despite earlier threats of strike action. About 100 post office workers who are members of the Communication Workers' Union met on Sunday (20th June) to discuss what action to take.

CWU national officer Terry Pullinger said: 'The CWU will explore every opportunity to enter open-minded dialogue and negotiations to find a solution and avoid a dispute, but that will only be possible if both parties enter such discussions without dogma or totally closed positions.'

He said that members were angry about the 'dismissive and disrespectful manner' in which the Isle of Man Post Office had so far responded to their concerns.

He said 'tough, responsible, intellectual and factorial negotiations hold no fear for the CWU' and added: 'What is unacceptable is a totally closed managerial position who claim to have their hands tied by government.

'Whether it is government, or simply the business hiding behind it, the policy smacks of conventional wisdom, short-termism and a severe lack of imagination.'

He said that last year, both sides committed to protecting the standard of living of all employees and to 'maintain reasonable earnings expectations' at the same time as improving the Post Office's competitive edge and performance.

Mr Pullinger said that the Post Office, a statutory authority, was not paid for by the taxpayer and contributed to the economy and government.

'Isle of Man Post Office income has grown by 6 per cent year on year, and at the time of entering our discussion its operating profit was up 58 per cent,' he said.

'It has this year contributed £3 million to the government via its reserves and through the arrangement commutes 50 per cent of its profits back into government funds.

'That arrangement was 45 per cent but the government increased it to 50 per cent this year.'

He said: 'The CWU is not ignorant of the economic climate, the pressures on the postal industry or the performance of the business and our claim and any expectation of an agreeable settlement would respect those factors.

'We totally understand the private and public sector having to respond to the financial and competitive challenges that everybody is facing but we do not believe that adjustments to spend, efficiency and value for money has to translate into the worsening of the standard of living of those who genuinely contribute to successful and excellently delivered services.'

Mr Pullinger said that none of its members wanted to strike but that they did not want to be ignored either. The Post Office was hit by the government's public sector pay freeze which came into effect this year.

When the union began its annual pay discussions with the Post Office in April, Mr Pullinger said they were told there was no room to manoeuvre.

Post Office management has remained tight-lipped on the row while the negotiations have been taking place.

Source: IOM Today

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