Bedford Section, Eastern No 6 Branch

Communications Workers Union

The Bedford Section Represents members of the  CWU across the MK40 - Mk45 postcode area.

The Postal Executive, yesterday, unanimously endorsed the attached agreement.  It is important that we now tell our members that the strength of their support for strike action has brought us to this position.

We should also tell our members that is was right to suspend strike action.  We have always promised our members that we would not take unnecessary strike action.

We would like to thank all of our activists for your hard work and support during this difficult time.  We would also like you to pass on our thanks to our members for their strength and solidarity during the ballot and the strikes. 

The interim agreement clearly outlines how the full and final agreement will be shaped.  It is also clear that Royal Mail have made significant concessions in the bitter long running local disputes.  We must now use the strength of the agreement for local reps to re-engage and reach local agreements.

At national level it is essential we now focus our efforts on reaching a final agreement that delivers benefits to our members, customers and the company.  This has always been and remains our primary objective.

In line with Royal Mail’s record of misinformation, the company tried last night to position the agreement purely around the achievement of a strike free Christmas.  We want a strike free Christmas and a strike free New Year, but the agreement is explicit in recognising that this is dependant upon significant progress being made.  The addition of an independent chair for the discussions means that the level of progress will be independently measured at fortnightly intervals to ensure both parties continue to work towards the final agreement.   Nobody will be allowed to walk away from the agreement.

Royal Mail has also accepted that the national ballot and all local ballots remain enacted.

In recent weeks and days - even whilst negotiations were taking place at the highest level - Royal Mail continued to deliberately confuse the situation.  Now the interim agreement will be backed up by an independent process, Royal Mail’s behaviour is no longer sustainable.

Additionally, the clear up arrangements, discipline and issues around people being taken off pay are dealt with in a stronger way than they have been historically.  We know that trust cannot be rebuilt overnight but both parties have a responsibility to work towards it.

ED's  NOTE : I have received a copy of the Interim agreement and hope to have it uploaded later today for you to read. If however you want a copy of the agreement before it's uploaded, email me and I will send you a copy of the agreement.

ROYAL MAIL DISPUTE

Today’s Sun Article Page 14

Some of our members will have seen the article in the Sun today that claims that Dave Ward, DGS P, has a sticker on his letter box saying ‘no junk mail’.

The article then uses this claim for a tirade of allegations. 

We have proved beyond any doubt that neither the letter box nor the house was Dave Ward’s.  I can also confirm that no such sticker is present on his property.

In addition, the postwoman named and pictured is not his postwoman and nor is the person pictured who it claims to be 

The article was clearly designed at attacking both the Union and Dave Ward personally and to undermine the dispute.

I have today written to the Sun requesting a full retraction under the relevant Editor’s Code of Practice.  It is important that we bring these facts to our members’ attention.

Kevin Slocombe

Head of Communications

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