Royal Mail workers walk out as talks break down
October 22, 2009
The failure of the Communications Workers Union to come to an agreement with the Royal Mail over modernization, working conditions and pay has resulted in 120,000 members of the union going on strike. The walkout will disrupt the British postal system for two days after last ditch talks failed to produce a positive result.
The union has announced that 42,000 drivers and employees at sorting centres will cease to do their jobs today and that tomorrow 78,000 workers responsible for collecting and delivering the mail will stop doing so.
The Communication Worker’s Union said that it had been trying to come to a resolution for some time and hinted that although they had held numerous talks neither the U.K.’s business secretary, lord Mandelson or Adam Crozier and Mark Higson who run Royal Mail had bothered to turn up to the discussions.
Gordon Brown has said that the walk out is regrettable and in many ways counter productive. He went on to say that the government was doing everything in its power to try and rectify the situation.
Royal Mail has said that they will continue talks with the union and claim that they have already offered a sensible solution to the worker’s problems.
The walkout will be a blow for businesses that are already suffering because of the current economic situation and have come at a time when many require a working postal service in the run up to Christmas.
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