‘Toxic’: Union suspends Royal Mail pay deal

BEN LUCAS

9.5%

A PAY DEAL that helped end months of strike action at Royal Mail is at risk of falling apart after the Communication Workers Union (CWU) yesterday said it would suspend its upcoming vote on the agreement over concerns with the company’s “toxic” working environment.

The agreement, struck last month, included a 10 per cent salary increase and a one-off lump sum of £500. The union, which represents 115,000 postal workers, had previously recommended its members approve the deal.

But the CWU said yesterday “the environment we are attempting to deliver this agreement in remains toxic”.

The union warned unless Royal Mail dropped a “culture of imposition” then “the integrity of the negotiators agreement will be irreparably damaged”.

As a result, the union said it has agreed to suspend the vote on the deal.

“This must be the wake-up call that senior management need to change the culture” and “show the humility required” the union said.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said approving the deal would help the company move forward.

“The need to change is critical so we can improve our quality of service, deliver for our customers and get back to profitability,” the spokesperson said. “The sooner we can get a positive ballot result the sooner we can give our people the agreed pay rise and provide greater job security.”

Royal Mail’s owner, International Distributions Services, last week blamed strike action on a full-year loss of more than £1bn, which it reported last week.

Ofcom is investigating Royal Mail’s failure to meet its annual delivery targets for first and second class mail and deliveries – and could issue a fine.

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