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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Postal workers decide on strike | Postal workers decide on strike |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of postal workers in London are to strike. | Thousands of postal workers in London are to strike. |
| Up to 10,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members will walk out for 24 hours on 19 June causing disruption to mail deliveries across the city. | Up to 10,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members will walk out for 24 hours on 19 June causing disruption to mail deliveries across the city. |
| They claim "arbitrary" job cuts will affect about 1,600 workers and that staff may be downgraded into part-time positions, threatening services. | They claim "arbitrary" job cuts will affect about 1,600 workers and that staff may be downgraded into part-time positions, threatening services. |
| The Royal Mail dispute the job cut figure and said a fall in mail volumes meant fewer jobs were needed. | The Royal Mail dispute the job cut figure and said a fall in mail volumes meant fewer jobs were needed. |
| CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "Royal Mail is blocking modernisation by refusing to negotiate change with the CWU. | CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "Royal Mail is blocking modernisation by refusing to negotiate change with the CWU. |
| Productivity 'lagging' | |
| "We have offered a moratorium on all strike action if Royal Mail will suspend executive action and enter into meaningful negotiations." | "We have offered a moratorium on all strike action if Royal Mail will suspend executive action and enter into meaningful negotiations." |
| Mr Ward added: "The future of the business must be safeguarded through careful planning, not shooting from the hip." | Mr Ward added: "The future of the business must be safeguarded through careful planning, not shooting from the hip." |
| But a Royal Mail spokesman said: "A strike will not modernise Royal Mail - it will simply disrupt the service to which customers are entitled, lead to an even greater loss of business and leave Royal Mail far less able to protect full time jobs. | But a Royal Mail spokesman said: "A strike will not modernise Royal Mail - it will simply disrupt the service to which customers are entitled, lead to an even greater loss of business and leave Royal Mail far less able to protect full time jobs. |
| "Productivity in Royal Mail offices in London already lags behind the rest of the UK with the productivity in parts of London now 10% worse than the UK average." | "Productivity in Royal Mail offices in London already lags behind the rest of the UK with the productivity in parts of London now 10% worse than the UK average." |
| He added: "We are only putting in place changes which are already agreed with the CWU as part of the 2007 deal." | He added: "We are only putting in place changes which are already agreed with the CWU as part of the 2007 deal." |