Peace
talks between the Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over pay
rates have broken down again as each side accuses the other of refusing to give
ground.
Adam
Crozier, Royal Mail chief executive, has claimed unions are ‘going backwards’
and are being unrealistic in their demands.
Ray
Ellis, a senior CWU official, said that the Royal Mail was not prepared to move
‘one iota’ and attendance at talks was ‘for window dressing purposes only’.
Royal
Mail claims its pay offer is worth 14.5 per cent over 18 months, which would
cost the company £340m a year.
The
CWU says the deal only amounts to a rise of 4.5 per cent, with the rest tied to
productivity improvements.
