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War of words amid postal strike War of words amid postal strike
(about 1 hour later)
The Royal Mail has accused the Communication Workers' Union of talking "cobblers" as a 48-hour strike hits mail services.The Royal Mail has accused the Communication Workers' Union of talking "cobblers" as a 48-hour strike hits mail services.
The war of words flared as Royal Mail boss Adam Crozier rubbished the main postal workers' union's suggestion that the firm treats its staff as "slaves".The war of words flared as Royal Mail boss Adam Crozier rubbished the main postal workers' union's suggestion that the firm treats its staff as "slaves".
Talking to BBC Radio 4 Today's show, Mr Crozier said the Royal Mail expected its workers to work their paid hours.Talking to BBC Radio 4 Today's show, Mr Crozier said the Royal Mail expected its workers to work their paid hours.
The row came as up to 130,000 CWU members strike over pay and pensions.The row came as up to 130,000 CWU members strike over pay and pensions.
Postal workers began the 48-hour strike early on Monday after eight days of talks between the Royal Mail and CWU union officials ended without an agreement. Postal workers began the 48-hour strike early on Monday after eight days of talks between the Royal Mail and CWU officials ended without a settlement on pay increases, pension benefits or job security.
CWU members also staged a 48-hour walkout last week in protest over the Royal Mail's modernisation's strategy which the union says will lead to a loss of 40,000 jobs.
The breakdown of talks also led to the union warning that a further week of "continuous disruption" to all Royal Mail services would begin next Monday if the dispute was not resolved.
The threat of rolling strike action raises fears that households and businesses could receive little or no mail during that period, and possibly for weeks to come as Royal Mail struggles to deal with a backlog of parcels and letters.
I am very disappointed that this phase of intensive talks has not resolved the dispute when real progress has been made Brendan BarberTUCI am very disappointed that this phase of intensive talks has not resolved the dispute when real progress has been made Brendan BarberTUC
'Flexibility at stake''Flexibility at stake'
"Flexibility is the main issue at stake," Mr Crozier told the BBC. Mr Crozier apologised for the inconveniences to Royal Mail customers the strikes were causing, but said it was important to settle the dispute in a way that the company "can survive and prosper and not for its own sake".
"Flexibility is the main issue at stake," he said.
Earlier, the CWU had said that some of its members would come to work at 6am, do a full day's work and at the end a manager could arbitrarily say whether they had worked hard enough for them to go home.Earlier, the CWU had said that some of its members would come to work at 6am, do a full day's work and at the end a manager could arbitrarily say whether they had worked hard enough for them to go home.
"I call that slavery," said Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary."I call that slavery," said Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary.
But Mr Crozier denied this kind of working practice ever happened.But Mr Crozier denied this kind of working practice ever happened.
He added: "We are simply asking people to work the 37 hours and 20 minutes they are getting paid to work and if they have to work longer, then of course they get paid overtime. Rather, he argued that the CWU was against the abolition of some of the so-called "Spanish practices" that were abandoned in the 1970s by most companies.
"For the union to say they can't accept that is frankly not a tenable position." These include the freedom for a postal worker to go home before their shift has ended if they have completed their designated workload for the day, rather than help out where needed for the remainder of their working day.
'Continuous disruption'
Meanwhile, the CWU said a further week of "continuous disruption" to all services would begin next Monday if the dispute was not resolved.
The latest 48-hour strike means households and businesses face another week of little or no mail with a warning of severe disruption during the strike and for some time after.
HAVE YOUR SAY I appreciate they do a lot of work but the strike could lead to more job losses Kim Wood, Macclesfield Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I appreciate they do a lot of work but the strike could lead to more job losses Kim Wood, Macclesfield Send us your comments
Mr Crozier added: "We are simply asking people to work the 37 hours and 20 minutes they are getting paid to work and if they have to work longer, then of course they get paid overtime.
"For the union to say they can't accept that is frankly not a tenable position."
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who chaired the negotiations, said he would be keeping in close touch with both parties to "continue to seek to find a way forward".TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who chaired the negotiations, said he would be keeping in close touch with both parties to "continue to seek to find a way forward".
"I am very disappointed that this phase of intensive talks has not resolved the dispute when real progress has been made and we have been edging towards an agreement," he added."I am very disappointed that this phase of intensive talks has not resolved the dispute when real progress has been made and we have been edging towards an agreement," he added.
On Monday night, the Communications Workers Union (CWU) said additional action would start next Monday when mail centre and airport staff would go on strike.
Action would also be taken by delivery staff and other employees later in the week, the CWU added.
Differences remainDifferences remain
Royal Mail management and the CWU are at loggerheads over plans to cut workers pension benefits in exchange for a 6.9% pay increase over two years.Royal Mail management and the CWU are at loggerheads over plans to cut workers pension benefits in exchange for a 6.9% pay increase over two years.
"Royal Mail's proposals also include flexibility proposals that mean, among other things, that postal workers will not know what job they are doing from one day to the next," a union spokesman said."Royal Mail's proposals also include flexibility proposals that mean, among other things, that postal workers will not know what job they are doing from one day to the next," a union spokesman said.
The union has refused to accept these conditions, while Royal Mail described union demands as "unrealistic".The union has refused to accept these conditions, while Royal Mail described union demands as "unrealistic".
Planned 24-hour strikes 15 October from 1800BST: Mail sorting offices and airports 16 October from 0300BST: Deliveries and collection hubs17 October from 1200BST: Royal Mail drivers 18 October from 1200BST: Merchandised data entry centres 18 October from 1400BST: Heathrow world distribution centre Source: CWU
Business groups have warned that the walkouts are causing immense disruption to the economy with reports suggesting the stoppages could cost the firm up to £260m.Business groups have warned that the walkouts are causing immense disruption to the economy with reports suggesting the stoppages could cost the firm up to £260m.
It is feared that costs will rise over the longer term as customers switch to other postal suppliers and electronic forms of communication.It is feared that costs will rise over the longer term as customers switch to other postal suppliers and electronic forms of communication.
CWU members also staged a 48-hour walkout last week in a row with the Royal Mail over the firm's modernisation's strategy. Postal economist Ian Senior blamed postal regulator Postcomm's attempts to keep prices well below Royal Mail's competitors in Europe for the company's woes.
Royal Mail argues that reform of the business is vital to ensure it can compete effectively in a fully liberalised market but unions say the proposals will cost 40,000 jobs. He warned that the repeated industrial action was likely to push Royal Mail into a loss-making position and "hasten the long-term decline of the letter".