The British Communication Workers Union put its members on standby for the second time to take part in a possible strike March 27. It accuses Consignia, originally known as Royal Mail, of reneging on parts of a pay deal agreed to last week
. Consignia had reached a tentative agreement March 8 with the Union for a 6.9 % basic pay increase by April 2003. Some managers pulled back on the deal questioning whether Consignia could pay for the raises, the Union said in a statement. Workers earn $355 a week on average.
Consignia "remains committed to the 300 pound ($450) a week figure" and has invited the union for talks next week to clarify any outstanding doubts about the agreement, Consignia spokesman James Aedie said.
The postal service also criticized the union for not giving it formal notice of its latest grievances and making its latest strike threat.
The union has insisted that Consignia return to the governmental Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), an labor mediation agency, to give it a clear assurance that the agreement will be honored.
In February, the union had authorized a strike to take place the first week of March over the pay dispute. The CWU was asking Consignia for a 20% raise over the next two years but Consignia offered only 2% to 2.5%. (DIRECT Newsline, March 11). Continuing talks staved off that strike. The union represents about 145,000 postal workers.
