The
Communication Workers’ Union has struck a deal that could see postal workers’
pay rise to at least £300 a week by October next year.
The
union’s postal executive will meet on 12 March to decide whether to recommend
the pay deal that has emerged from a further month of intensive negotiations at
the Government’s arbitration and conciliation service Acas.
The
offer from Royal Mail now consists of a two-year deal with overall increases of
6.9 per cent.
John
Keggie, the union’s deputy general secretary who led the negotiations, said:
"[It is] just and fair taking into account the overall financial position
of the business.
"The
deal commits Consignia to achieving at least £300 basic pensionable pay for all
postal workers by October 2003," he said.
It
also introduces an improved holiday pay system that will provide extra payments
based on the principles of the Working Time Directive for members when they go
on annual leave.
The
issue of job security based on the principle of ‘no compulsory redundancies’
remains under discussion, but Keggie said he is confident an accord will be
reached before the executive meets on Tuesday.
"The
pay offer will be put to the membership in a postal ballot as soon as it can be
arranged," Keggie said.
"I
am pleased with the deal we have hammered out. We can now turn our attention to
the future of our industry, and in particular challenging the regulator’s
disastrous proposals and building our campaign for a first-class publicly-owned
national postal service."
