Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Latest NewsEmployee relationsIndustrial action / strikes

Employment relations minister Pat McFadden rejects union calls for government to intervene in Royal Mail dispute

by Greg Pitcher 9 Oct 2007
by Greg Pitcher 9 Oct 2007

Employment relations minister Pat McFadden has rejected trade union calls for the government to play a bigger role in solving the Royal Mail dispute.

McFadden said he was in regular contact with both union bosses and management but that it was for them to reach an agreement to end industrial action.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) yesterday confirmed fresh strikes for next week after talks broke down. Many postal workers have not been to work since Thursday as the dispute over pay, pensions and flexibility rumbles on.

CWU general secretary Billy Hayes yesterday accused the government of failing to stop the strikes. He said it was allowing Royal Mail bosses to waste £2bn of public money it gave them earlier this year to help avoid industrial action.

But McFadden told Personnel Today: “The government put up about £2bn in finance to support the pension fund. It is then for management and unions to negotiate on issues of pension, pay and flexibility.

“There are very active negotiations going on, and I keep in touch with both sides on a regular basis.”

Hayes added: “Secretary of state for business and enterprise John Hutton is the invisible man in this dispute. The minister’s absence is encouraging the wreckers at the head of the company who have no public service values.”

But a government spokesman insisted that Hutton was directly in touch with both sides, and that he also believed it was up to unions and management to reach an agreement.

Royal Mail
Avatar
Greg Pitcher

previous post
Confederation of British Industry calls for action on science teaching and cash for students
next post
Skills minister David Lammy will force government departments to use their buying power to help women into better jobs

You may also like

Labour pledges small business menopause guidance

27 Sep 2023

Keeping up with global regulations foxes HR

27 Sep 2023

Tesco introduces paid leave for kinship carers

27 Sep 2023

Who is on strike and when?

27 Sep 2023

Introduce three-day week for over 50s, says former...

26 Sep 2023

Ralph Lauren stylist ‘traumatised’ by racial comments

26 Sep 2023

Government expands Youth Offer employment support

26 Sep 2023

Few dyslexic thinkers feel employer knows their strengths

26 Sep 2023

Sickness absence rates soar to 10-year high

26 Sep 2023

Personnel Today Awards 2023 shortlist: Family Friendly Employer...

26 Sep 2023

  • Discover the value of CIPD accreditation PROMOTED | See how the CIPD can increase your earning potential...Read more
  • What does it mean to be an HR professional in 2024? (survey) PROMOTED | The world of HR is changing rapidly...Read more
  • The Contractor Management Mastery Pack: Everything you need to manage and pay global contractors PROMOTED | Answers to cross-border...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+