17 October 2009 - Sarah Sharpe - © Hellmail Postal News

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'.

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