The Government is facing a major challenge to its controversial plans to privatise the Royal Mail after postal workers' leaders decided to press ahead with a national strike ballot.
More than 115,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will vote before the end of September if no agreement is made over jobs, pensions and other issues linked to the sell-off.
The ballot will include whether to boycott post delivered by Royal Mail for rival companies such as UK Mail and TNT, which makes up a huge part of the daily postbag. A boycott would leave over 20 million items undelivered each day, including bills and bank statements.
Around 500 CWU representatives voted unanimously at a special conference in London in favour of holding the first ballot for national industrial action at the Royal Mail for four years if "satisfactory agreements" are not reached. The union said it wanted to secure job protections in Royal Mail as well as maintain pay, pensions and conditions and stop any worsening of postal services.
Deputy general secretary Dave Ward said he thought it was "inevitable" that a ballot would be held, adding that plans are being drawn up for a national day of action in support of postal services and against privatisation which could include a 24-hour strike.
He warned that selling Royal Mail would "damage" services and hit jobs, pay and conditions and accused the Government of "completely misleading" the public over privatisation, saying it was clear postal workers and the general public were against the plans.
"When they try to suggest that the postal industry has problems dealing with new technology and the digital age, they are talking nonsense. Workers have embraced modernisation, and helped increase profits by 60%, so why should we just hand it over to someone only interested in making money? We have a duty to defend the postal service - and we will."
Royal Mail said it was "disappointed" at the decision, adding: "Talks are ongoing between Royal Mail and the CWU and we are committed to seeking an agreement. Since 2011, Royal Mail has been in talks with the CWU to reach a new agreement following the business transformation agreement in 2010.
"Royal Mail proposed a legally-binding three-year highly competitive agreement to deliver its agenda for growth and industrial stability that included an 8.6% increase in base pay over three years. It has been rejected by the CWU. We believe that a ballot on strike action is inappropriate. Disrupting the service Royal Mail provides to its customers is not helpful."
A Department for Business spokesman said: "It's very disappointing that the CWU has voted to hold a national ballot for industrial action. We encourage the union to continue talking to Royal Mail management in order to achieve settlement on the issues they are concerned about."
Source : http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk
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