Post strike could endas union leaders meet
POSTAL workers’ leaders will today decide whether to recommend calling off the bitter dispute over pay, jobs and pensions which has crippled mail deliveries for weeks.
The Communication Workers‘ Union will consider a deal drawn up after marathon peace talks.
Union leaders and Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier signed a joint statement after an agreement was reached late on Friday.
The union’s 130,000 members will vote on the deal if it is accepted by the executive.
Peter Hall, assistant branch secretary at the CWU Cleveland Branch, said the two sides could be close to reaching a settlement.
He said: “It is still a long way off but I can see an end in sight.
“But from what I understand there are still unofficial strikes going on in Liverpool today. Royal Mail has enforced early starts, and they have done the same across Teesside.”
Most postal workers are expected to report for duty following a series of wildcat strikes which led to further disruption to deliveries.
More than 200 workers walked out from depots in Cannon Park, Middlesbrough, and Ridgeway, Coulby Newham, on Thursday.
The move came just a day after a second 48-hour strike between Monday and Wednesday.
The latest action was sparked by pay deductions, with workers having four days’ pay taken from one weekly wage, according to Mr Hall.
It is understood the deal thrashed out last week includes a 6.9% pay rise over two years, as well as agreements on flexible working and pensions.
