Workplace Report March 2006

Bargaining news

Royal Mail reviews its efficiency

The CWU communication workers’ union has reached agreement with Royal Mail on a company-wide efficiency review.

Under the agreement, local negotiations will take place in individual workplaces to identify opportunities for improvements and savings, “with no pre-determined targets for those savings”. Where savings are achieved, 40% of their value will be put into a national pool to boost postal workers’ basic pay.

Royal Mail has also given the union an assurance that it will not try to replace full-time jobs with part-time ones under the review, and no worker will be compelled to go part-time.

“This agreement proves that the company and the union can work together to avoid a race to the bottom and raise the value and status of postal workers’ jobs,” said CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward.