Stephen Hawkr We reported in the last issue of and above the basic increase SO that postal workers had there was to be a further voted by a margin of 2-l on a increase of 0.6% in basic pay 65% turn out to take strike linked to the introduction of action over their pay claim "new ways of working". from last October. The basic increases were Following the vote, the understood to take the guarunions claim of 5% and enteed pensionable income to Consignia's pathetic offer of 267.86 by April 2003 and with 2% with strings went back and the consolidation of bonuses forward to direct negotiations this would mean most dostal and references to ACAS. workers would be on £300 -In the first week of March, the unions target income in this. Depúty GS Postal John Keggie time trame thought he had a deal that was In addition, Keggie underdue to be put to the Postal stood Consignia to have said Executive on March 12. that where there was a shortWhat had apparently been fall for those workers not agreed was for 2.2% increase achieving bonuses, they would from October 2001, a further make this up, though this was 2.3% from November 2002 never put in writing. with the next pay review date While Keggie might have scheduled for October 2003. thought this was a good offer, it It also included the consolida- was clear from the response of tion of £10 per week bonus reps from offices all over the payments by April 2003.Over country that many postal workers did not.
But before it could be formally put to the Executive, and then to a ballot of the membership, Consignia weighed in to say they had never agreed to make up the wages of workers in offices not getting bonuses.
This scuppered any possibility of a deal and left Keggie spitting blood and threatening strike action. It was never clear whether this action was to be in support of the original claim or the supposed deal. In any event the dispute has yet again been referred back to ACAS.
There was clearly strong support for action around the original claim. Activists want to see that as the basis for both negotiations, an end to officials playing around with 2 year deals and productivity strings - and action if that's what is needed