Communication Workers Union's (CWU) consultative ballot of Royal Mail workers opens today. The union is sending ballot papers to 112,000 postal workers in Royal Mail (not the Post Office or Parcelforce) and is asking members to vote yes to four questions covering privatisation, a mail boycott, pay, and workplace issues. The result will be announced on 19th June.
CWU deputy general secretary, Dave Ward, said: "This ballot is about protecting the interests of our members and the future of the UK postal service. It is time to challenge Royal Mail and send a strong message to the government and regulator. The consultative ballot deals with the complex issues facing our members and the postal industry. We're asking postal workers to support the union or allow Royal Mail a free hand to determine their future - there is no fence to sit on. Securing a yes vote in this consultative ballot will give us the invaluable backing of the membership when in talks with Royal Mail over pay and the unacceptable management culture of relentless budget cuts and unachievable performance targets."
"Having the weight of the membership behind us will send a strong message to the government and regulator on the need to take action to end unfair competition. Support for the union's stance against privatisation will significantly strengthen the growing campaign against the sale of the business and protect the jobs of a loyal workforce as well as the services of a beloved British institution. A yes vote is the only way to protect the interests of our members and the future of the UK postal service."
The ballot will include all CWU members employed directly by Royal Mail, including all Admin workers. CWU members who work for Parcelforce, Post Office Limited, Romec (engineers and cleaners) and Quadrant (catering) are not included in the ballot. The ballot is being independently counted and verified by Popularis.
Timetable:
Ballot Opens: 22nd May 2013
Ballot Closes: 18th June 2013
Result Announced: 19th June 2013
The questions:
Q1: Do you support the CWU Pay claim?
A pay rise for members was due on the 1st April 2013 but Royal Mail is holding back. The CWU has set out clearly what we want - an above-inflation two-year pay deal to ensure the workforce is fairly rewarded for their hard work.
Q2: Do you oppose the privatisation of Royal Mail?
Royal Mail's thinking on privatisation is short term and benefits vested interests. We don't need the type of investment that takes more out than it puts in. The debate is not over and with the membership's support our campaign can still stop the sale.
Q3: Do you support the boycott of competitors' mail?
The company and the Regulator have no strategy for dealing with end to end competition. Any profit on downstream access (DSA) will be wiped out when TNT switch to their own delivery network. Unfair competition has undermined the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and the jobs of our members. Endorsing and implementing the boycott policy will create publicity and place pressure on the government and the regulator to intervene.
Q4: Do you support the policy of non-cooperation?
There is a massive disconnect between what the company says about parcel/packet growth and their relentless pursuit of budget/performance demands which in too many locations is making daily workload unbearable. The CWU policy of non-cooperation will bring these things to a head and help us achieve agreements on all workplace issues.
