Union boss: “Vote YES for fresh start”

Communication Workers Union (CWU) deputy general secretary Dave Ward has urged UK postal workers to vote in favour of the Royal Mail agreement – explaining that voting no is not an alternative to change. Friday saw the opening of the Business Transformation – 2010 and Beyond consultative ballot. Postal workers across the UK will be voting on an agreement that has been the culmination of months of detailed negotiations between Royal Mail and the CWU, following last year’s national postal strikes.

Explaining the issues at stake, Ward said: “Our members have been facing unprecedented change for a number of years within the business and this agreement deals with that change.”

The three-year agreement tackles each of the issues that led to last year’s dispute, provides for rising basic wages year-on-year, a shorter working week without loss of pay, additional lump-sum payments as modernisation is deployed, improves job security and commits the company to maintaining at least a 75% full-time workforce.

“And we now have clear commitments from the company that the union will be fully involved in all areas of change and modernisation,” Ward added.

“This is an agreement about our members’ future; it secures and preserves jobs, allows for a real opportunity to shape the future of the company and tackles change and modernisation head on.

“This agreement is the best chance we’ve ever had to change relationships in this industry for the better and it allows our members to have a fresh start.

“Voting no to any agreement is not an alternative to change – I urge our members to vote and to vote YES for a fresh start.”