Postal Strike continues as Royal Mail refuses to negotiate over modernisation

On Wednesday localised industrial action will take place in Burslem delivery office, Thames Valley Mail centre, with Royal Mail drivers in 10 cities and towns including London (totalling 1700 people) taking part. Workers at the East London distribution office and vehicle operation centre are also participating in the strike. The sorting office in Swindon is also reported to be affected by the strike as 800 workers there take part in the industrial action, the BBC has reported.

The union is determined that Royal Mail enters into negotiations over bigger postal service modernisation plans. Royal Mail has refused to budge from its position of not negotiating with the union over its plans to modernise the postal service, which will result in job cuts and changes in working conditions.

Speaking to IBTimes the CWU spokeswoman, Sian Jones, said: "The union has met with Royal Mail a number of times including a meeting that took place in London today. These meetings however, were one way talks and lectures by Royal Mail. These were not negotiations; Royal Mail refuses to negotiate with us over this matter."

"We are willing to offer a no strike deal in return for genuine talks and real negotiations, " added Jones.

When asked what the union wishes to achieve through the negotiation with Royal Mail, Jones said, "We want change by agreement and reward for changes that people are going to make [to comply with the modernisation]."

The 2007 agreement which ended the national strike had four phases. The spokeswoman said the first three phases were implemented successfully and huge changes were carried out which included pay increases which were all audited by the Royal Mail.

The problem comes in phase four, which concerns the implementation of the wider modernisation plans in Royal Mail. The union accuses Royal Mail of breaking this agreement and making its own modernisation plans without holding talks with the union.

Royal Mail has defended its position saying that changes are essential for the survival of the postal service and the union is blocking crucial modernisation plans that need to be carried out for Royal Mail to be competitive.

Jones said this is "complete nonsense" and the "union has helped to implement massive changes so far. It is Royal Mail who does not want to have an agreement in the modernisation of the postal service."

The union will carry out a national ballot which will see its 130,000 members vote on whether to call for a national strike. The result of the ballot will be announced towards the end of September. The actual date and the duration of the national strike will be decided following the ballot.