The Royal Mail is to recruit twice as many seasonal workers in the run up to Christmas as the war of words surrounding the postal strike continues. With both Royal Mail and the government determined not to let the CWU bring a halt to the modernisation of the company, 30,000 casual workers are to be employed to help keep the Christmas mail moving.

A leaked document, which the Royal Mail has denied all knowledge of, suggests that the company is more than prepared to dig its heels in, with or without the consent of the Communication Workers Union, and avoid any further unpicking of its transformation plans. It would appear to have the full backing of Lord Mandelson, who eartlierThe

Speaking to Reuters after a speech at Oxford University's Said Business School, Lord Mandelson dismissed the CWU's claim that it was prepared to negotiate:

"For them to negotiate they have to be willing to negotiate, to want a negotiated outcome and to want what is best for the Royal Mail as a business.

"What is best must involve modernisation, change and reform and until the Union as a whole fully embraces that, we're not going to get much further forward." he said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to take a tough stance on public sector pay over the coming months as he works out the best way to free the UK from crippling debt. The CWU, equally determined, accused the Royal Mail of being unwilling to engage in talks but Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson said that the company had held 70 meeting with the CWU in recent months and in response the union had merely come up with 'fresh demands' rather than giving up what he described as a "totally unjustified" strike that was hurting customers.

The Communication Workers Union has not ruled out indefinite strike action if the Royal Mail remained unwilling to abandon its present modernisation plans and move towards developing a new strategy in full agreement with the union that would include a modern pay deal. Leader Billy Hayes described the situation as 'worrying'.

© Hellmail.co.uk (17 October 2009)

See Also >>

• Royal Mail - Why CWU Peace Deal Is No Go (15 October 2009)
  Royal Mail rejected an offer by the CWU this week to cease all strike action in exchange for a rethink on its modernisation plans and a revised pay deal, describing the CWU's offer as 'A list of fresh demands'....
  
• Modernisation Of Royal Mail Rubber Stamped In Leaked Document (15 October 2009)
  A report by the BBC's Newsnight highlighted an apparently leaked document thought to show that the government and Royal Mail are in collusion to break the CWU's grip on the postal service. The Royal Mail have denied any knowledge of the document which appears to rubber stamp modernisation of the Royal Mail with or without the agreement of the union and with the full backing of the government...
  
• The Other Royal Mail Document (16 October 2009)
  There is a second document that for the moment appears to have been buried since the current dispute began. Known as the 'Next Steps' document, it sets out a vision for duty cycles based on four and eight hour shifts. Essentially, as Royal Mail introduces more automation, the company will have much clearer duty spans which presumably puts paid to any hopes by business that early deliveries are high on its list of priorities...
  
• Union Members Embarrassed By Hopeless Hayes (17 October 2009)
  Postal workers on an online forum this week described CWU leader Billy Hayes as a "hopeless public speaker" and that he "should not be doing any interviews. He mumbles and can only remember one thing per interview so repeats it again and again."...
  

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