Ballot papers start to land from today 23/6/23

BUSINESS RECOVERY, TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH AGREEMENT – CWU MEMBERS BALLOT – VOTE YES

Dear Members,

A YEAR IN DISPUTE. MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS. THREE STRIKE BALLOTS. 18 DAYS OF STRIKE ACTION. THE MOST BITTER PERIOD IN OUR HISTORY. NOW IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR SAY.

This was the dispute that was always coming following privatisation and a huge shift in the way the world communicates. It is to your credit that we have staved off the attacks for so long. It is also to your credit that we have come out of the other side of this dispute – we are still here.

Context is everything. This wasn’t a normal dispute. Royal Mail Group built a war chest to take us on. They employed a group of union bashing senior managers and they had the backing of a right-wing government and media. They threw everything at destroying the union and delivering a compliant workforce – they failed.

But we do not come out of this with everything we would have wanted – this is always the case in disputes of this magnitude. The Postal Executive recommends you vote yes on the basis that it represents the best agreement we could have reached given the unprecedented set of circumstances. It also represents the best chance of bringing Royal Mail Group out of a financial crisis, delivering necessary change by agreement, and protecting jobs.

The financial crisis was one created by reckless decision making at the highest level of Royal Mail Group. Whilst we can never forget this, we must also be responsible. We are not prepared to walk away from an agreement and put your jobs at risk.

We have reversed their original proposals. They wanted imposed change which would have destroyed the company. We have delivered agreed change which will save it.

This has been delivered by your support, your loyalty, and your solidarity.

It is time to settle the dispute and for Royal Mail Group and the CWU to work together to recover, transform and grow the business. The truth is a no vote in this ballot would be seen as the green light for Royal Mail Group to continue with the culture of imposition. The only way the company has a future is by working with the CWU and the workforce. The only way we can influence the future is through this national agreement.

We recommend you VOTE YES – above all else make an informed decision and USE YOUR VOTE.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Andy Furey
Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)