Countrywide post strike threat delayed
The threat of a national postal workers’ strike receded today when the industry’s main union suspended a ballot for industrial action in a row over the outsourcing of jobs.
The Communication Workers Union had warned that voting would start today in a dispute over engineering and cleaning jobs being outsourced to a new joint venture company.
The union said it was still opposed to the move but suspended the ballot, claiming that the timescale for the change had been put back.
Consignia, which plans to outsource the jobs as a cost-cutting measure, said further talks were being held and it was optimistic of reaching agreement.
“We have given the union repeated assurances about job protection, union recognition and continued membership of the pension scheme,” said a spokesman for the postal group.
