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Post deal pledges 'radically different' culture
6 Nov 2009The two sides in the bitter postal dispute have pledged to achieve a "radically different" culture in industrial and employee relations under a deal which ended the threat of fresh strikes, it was disclosed today.
Details of an agreement which led to planned walkouts today and on Monday being called off were released by the Communication Workers Union, which said "significant concessions" had been made by the Royal Mail.
Deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "There is no doubt that the strength of support from postal workers in the strikes has made Royal Mail think again. They have made significant concessions this week that are clear for everybody to see.
"Those concessions have allowed us to suspend strike action and work towards a full and final agreement. The union has always been focused on achieving modernisation by consent and now the company has finally acknowledged that is how we must go forward.
"The agreement ensures the imposed change that has led to the bitter local disputes will now be subject to negotiation and agreement.
"It also deals with clear-up arrangements and discipline but most crucially the interim agreement is clear in shaping the final agreement and the benefits that postal workers can now expect from the future.
"Trust remains an issue between the union and the company but the introduction of an independent chair to continue the negotiations and fortnightly reviews will mean that nobody can walk away from this agreement."
The document agreed by the union's postal executive last night said the aim was to make significant progress on further negotiations by early December, concluding a final deal by the end of the year.
"Both Royal Mail and CWU recognise that exceptional efforts will need to be made quickly during the period of calm to rebuild trust and goodwill," said the document.
Changes implemented this year will now be reviewed, while there will be "genuine negotiations" in offices where changes have been made without agreement.
"Both parties are committed to beginning the process of restoring and improving relationships at all levels. With this in mind it is important there is no victimisation, or settling of scores, arising out of the dispute.
"Royal Mail and CWU are committed to seek a long-term agreement that will successfully transform the business, fundamentally improve the local working environment and provide employees with as much certainty, choice and stability as possible during the period of change."
The two sides have pledged to establish a "new and completely fresh approach that will bring about a radically different culture in industrial and employee relations."
Other goals include improved job security, a new and improved reward and benefits package, fair workload and commitment to modernisation.
