Postal workers’ vote brings dispute to an end

Nov 28 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

POSTAL workers have overwhelmingly backed a deal on pay and conditions finally ending their long-running dispute.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said its members voted by 64% in favour of an agreement and will now receive a pay rise of 6.9% over two years.

Turnout in the ballot was also 64%. The union said it would now be at the heart of implementing changes to working practices in the Royal Mail, one of the issues at the centre of the bitter dispute.

Postal workers across the country were involved in a long-running campaign of industrial action since the summer, including a number of strikes, which crippled mail deliveries.

In addition, unofficial “wildcat” strikes were held in Liverpool.

Dave Ward, the union's deputy general secretary, said: “Rather than accept market rate strategy for pay, this deal sets the benchmark for the whole of the postal industry to follow.

“The strong acceptance of this deal by postal workers shows that they also recognise that change is needed in the business.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We warmly welcome this strong ‘yes’ vote – it’s a green light to allow the company to modernise to enable it to compete in a tough market.”