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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Postal workers back strike action | Postal workers back strike action |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Postal workers have voted strongly in favour of taking industrial action over pay, in what would be the first national postal strike since 1996. | Postal workers have voted strongly in favour of taking industrial action over pay, in what would be the first national postal strike since 1996. |
| About 75% of Communication Workers Union (CWU) members who voted in the ballot supported the move. | |
| The union is in dispute with the Royal Mail over its 2.5% pay offer. | The union is in dispute with the Royal Mail over its 2.5% pay offer. |
| A series of walkouts will be held by about 130,000 CWU members unless new talks can lead to a breakthrough in the dispute. | |
| This is the clearest message we have had from the workforce so the Royal Mail has to listen and return to serious negotiations CWU | This is the clearest message we have had from the workforce so the Royal Mail has to listen and return to serious negotiations CWU |
| The union said workers' pay should rise to the national average over the next five years. Royal Mail says this amounts to £1bn and is unaffordable. | The union said workers' pay should rise to the national average over the next five years. Royal Mail says this amounts to £1bn and is unaffordable. |
| The ballot result was announced at the union's annual conference in Bournemouth. | The ballot result was announced at the union's annual conference in Bournemouth. |
| "Royal Mail workers have rejected the company's business plan, the company's leadership and an unacceptable pay offer," said CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward. | |
| "This is the clearest message we have had from the workforce so the Royal Mail has to listen, and return to serious negotiations." | |
| Serious damage | |
| But Royal Mail says it has made a "realistic and fair" offer which includes a 2.5% increase in basic pensionable pay. | |
| UK POSTAL MARKET FACTS Businesses send about 87% of all mailOnly 10% of mail is household to household, with 3% posted by the public to businessThe 500 biggest firms account for 50% of all mail sentThere are now 18 licensed mail operators, including Royal Mail, TNT Post UK, DHL Global Mail and UK Mail Source: Postcomm | UK POSTAL MARKET FACTS Businesses send about 87% of all mailOnly 10% of mail is household to household, with 3% posted by the public to businessThe 500 biggest firms account for 50% of all mail sentThere are now 18 licensed mail operators, including Royal Mail, TNT Post UK, DHL Global Mail and UK Mail Source: Postcomm |
| The offer also comprises an £800 share dividend and a 50% share in any savings above budget in an employee's local unit. | |
| And postal services minister Jim Fitzpatrick warned workers that a national strike would harm their cause - and could damage the Royal Mail. | |
| Staffs should instead look to solve their differences through "constructive discussions" instead, he said. | |
| 'Need to modernise' | |
| The union held three ballots, covering 127,000 Royal Mail workers as well as two separate groups of employees involved in pay and jobs disputes. | The union held three ballots, covering 127,000 Royal Mail workers as well as two separate groups of employees involved in pay and jobs disputes. |
| About 5,000 union members working in Post Offices were balloted in protest at closures, pay and moving post offices inside WH Smith stores. | About 5,000 union members working in Post Offices were balloted in protest at closures, pay and moving post offices inside WH Smith stores. |
| And cash handlers, who deliver money to branches, also voted on a strike. | And cash handlers, who deliver money to branches, also voted on a strike. |
| A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Whatever the result of the ballot, it will not change the absolute need for Royal Mail to modernise, which is in the interests of everyone in the company. | A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Whatever the result of the ballot, it will not change the absolute need for Royal Mail to modernise, which is in the interests of everyone in the company. |
| "Mail volumes have already fallen and more people are using electronic communications." | "Mail volumes have already fallen and more people are using electronic communications." |
| If Life on Mars were about 1970s industrial relations, the current dispute between Royal Mail and its workforce could be an episode Robert PestonBBC Business Editor Read Robert Peston's blog | If Life on Mars were about 1970s industrial relations, the current dispute between Royal Mail and its workforce could be an episode Robert PestonBBC Business Editor Read Robert Peston's blog |
| The company's rivals were already 40% more efficient than Royal Mail, the spokesman added. | The company's rivals were already 40% more efficient than Royal Mail, the spokesman added. |
| James Greenbury, chief executive of rival firm DX Group, said he expected to add more customers in June alone than in the last 12 months if postal workers do go ahead with the proposed strike. | James Greenbury, chief executive of rival firm DX Group, said he expected to add more customers in June alone than in the last 12 months if postal workers do go ahead with the proposed strike. |
| The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) warned that a postal strike would severely damage the UK economy and called on both sides to negotiate a solution. | |
| "Small businesses would be hardest hit by this dispute," said FSB Trade and Industry Chairman, Clive Davenport. | |
| "They employ over half of the private sector workforce in the UK and are totally reliant on the Royal Mail. Other mail providers do not offer an alternative to small firms because of their size. | |
| "A cheque delayed in the post can mean the difference between life and death for a small business, which means that this strike cannot be allowed to go ahead." | |
| Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? Are you a Royal Mail employee? Send us your comments and experiences | |