CWU won’t be seeking agency worker injunction today

Fri, 6 Nov 2009

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will not be attending the High Court today to seek an injunction to prevent the Royal Mail from using ‘strike breakers’.

The move follows an an agreement to suspend strike action over the Christmas period.

A spokesperson for the CWU told Recruiter: “We are not in the High Court today. We have served notice of formal proceedings but there are no dates.

“We are not going for the injuction today. We are working towards making things work with Royal Mail by improving industrial relations. That is our focus and priority at the moment.”

Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, said: “I’m delighted for our customers and our people that we’ve got back to a sensible agreement with the CWU that will allow us to deliver a great Christmas while getting on with vital talks about the long-term future of Royal Mail - and allows us to drive forward with the essential modernisation of Royal Mail in the new year.

“We look forward to positive and constructive discussions on the next stage of Royal Mail’s modernisation plan, which is key to the future of the company, all those who rely on it, and to the future of the universal service.”

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “I am pleased to be able to report that after intensive negotiations over recent days an agreement has been reached between Royal Mail and the CWU.

“The agreement provides for a ‘period of calm’ free of industrial action to enable negotiations to be held over the next couple of months through to the end of the year to secure the longer term agreements necessary on all aspects of modernisation of Royal Mail. It also provides a way of resolving outstanding local disputes, and addresses all the issues of concern to the CWU and its members.”