Post union signs no-strike deal
Consignia, the postal group, yesterday signed a three-month no-strike deal with the Communication Workers’ Union, suggesting that this year’s Christmas post will escape industrial action.
The deal, which expires on January 12, was seen as a sign of progress in talks on the implementation of an agreement on working practices, which provoked unofficial strikes during the summer. It also suggests that union leaders may be willing to negotiate with Consignia over plans for a 15 per cent cut in its cost base over 18 months, which is expected to lead to thousands of job losses.
The company lost 50,000 working days to strikes in the first six months of the year, but fewer than 800 in August and 200 in September. Kevin Brown and Christopher Adams
Copyright: The Financial Times Limited
