As you will be aware you were recently balloted for industrial action, along with all your colleagues and collectively you returned a massive yes vote in support of your Union. Due to the
intransigence of the business and their refusal to reopen meaningful negotiations we have called a 24 hour strike on Friday 29th June. Royal Mail has now written to you suggesting that you should not have been included in the ballot.
Royal Mails communications are a deliberate attempt, to create confusion and division amongst our members.
We are writing to confirm that Area Distribution Professional Drivers are involved in the current dispute. You were included in the ballot which not only deals with pay, but also involves the future of the business. The whole future of Royal Mail is at stake and you as a RM employee will be fundamentally affected by the companies plans.
A further pay award for Professional Drivers is due in October 2007 and is dependant upon the successful outcome of the Unions negotiations which were due to be concluded by April 2007.
The increase in basic pay agreed under the RTD/EU changes were concluded outside the normal pay negotiations and were to offset the loss of earnings encountered by Professional Drivers due to the restrictions placed upon them in respect to the amount of hours they can perform.
The business has not responded positively to the unions claim despite the best efforts of your National Negotiatiors to conclude an agreement.
Royal Mail’s disastrous strategy must be challenged as it threatens the entire future of the business. Royal Mail freely negotiated an access agreement with their competitors that allows for them to be consistently undercut on price whilst having to deliver the final mile.
Only with your support can we convince the business to listen, and reconsider their business plan with the involvement of the CWU.
Phil Browne
Acting Assistant Secretary
Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary |
