Royal Mail managers in crisis talks as union leaders appear set to call for further walkouts
Royal Mail bosses were locked in crisis talks yesterday as union leaders appeared set to call for further walkouts.
The 507-year-old company’s board of directors have met in London as chairman Keith Williams and chief executive Simon Thompson try to resolve the bitter row.
With the Postal Service losing more than £1million a day, bosses have warned further strikes could see it put into administration.
They said the strikes “threaten the job security” of its postal workers.
Williams was appointed to the board in 2019 after 18 years at British Airways where he ended a row with cabin crew over pay and conditions.
Strike threat: The Royal Mail board met in London as chairman Keith Williams and chief executive Simon Thompson try to resolve bitter row
But he failed to work the same magic at Royal Mail, in a long-running dispute with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents around 115,000 postal workers, over pay changes and terms which it says company, are necessary to modernize. and compete with rivals.
Royal Mail has been battered by 18 days of strikes over the past year, including the Christmas period.
“After 11 months of talks, making numerous improvements to our offering based on CWU feedback and high profile talks, we are deeply concerned that we are yet to reach an agreement,” he said.
“We have always been clear that a significant transformation of our network and our working practices is essential to the survival of the company.
“It is not viable for the business to lose more than £1million a day. Change cannot continue to be delayed.
Further strikes “would only serve to threaten the job security of our letter carriers and women and make our wage offer unaffordable”, he said.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward blamed Royal Mail’s financial crisis on the way it handled the dispute, adding that its offer was “not good enough”.
It is believed the CWU could call more strikes today, with the company expected to respond immediately, possibly by calling in administrators.
