This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8331100.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fresh mail strikes get underway | Fresh mail strikes get underway |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The second phase of nationwide postal strikes by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is now underway. | The second phase of nationwide postal strikes by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is now underway. |
| On Thursday, 43,700 union members in mail centres, delivery units in mail centres, network logistic drivers and garage staff are on a 24-hour strike. | On Thursday, 43,700 union members in mail centres, delivery units in mail centres, network logistic drivers and garage staff are on a 24-hour strike. |
| Further 24-hour strikes are due to take place on Friday and Saturday. | Further 24-hour strikes are due to take place on Friday and Saturday. |
| Royal Mail management and union bosses have been meeting all week at TUC headquarters, but each is blaming the other for the lack of agreement. | Royal Mail management and union bosses have been meeting all week at TUC headquarters, but each is blaming the other for the lack of agreement. |
| Fresh mail strikes get underway | |
| Royal Mail said they had been close to agreement on Tuesday evening but that on Wednesday morning the CWU had made fresh demands. | Royal Mail said they had been close to agreement on Tuesday evening but that on Wednesday morning the CWU had made fresh demands. |
| How the strike might change Britain Q&A: Royal Mail dispute | How the strike might change Britain Q&A: Royal Mail dispute |
| "Today we came in to be faced with a new set of demands from the CWU, which we were in the process of responding to and discussing," Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters told the BBC. | "Today we came in to be faced with a new set of demands from the CWU, which we were in the process of responding to and discussing," Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters told the BBC. |
| "We find it really quite extraordinary that in the midst of those productive talks taking place under the auspices of the TUC they would go ahead and call strikes." | "We find it really quite extraordinary that in the midst of those productive talks taking place under the auspices of the TUC they would go ahead and call strikes." |
| 'Period of calm' | 'Period of calm' |
| Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said in a statement that the last three days had been "the most useful and productive discussions" since the dispute started. | Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said in a statement that the last three days had been "the most useful and productive discussions" since the dispute started. |
| He added that Wednesday morning's proposal was a chance for the Royal Mail to end the strikes. | He added that Wednesday morning's proposal was a chance for the Royal Mail to end the strikes. |
| "Had that proposal been agreed this would have enabled a period of calm and allowed further talks through Acas with the intention of concluding a full and final agreement." | "Had that proposal been agreed this would have enabled a period of calm and allowed further talks through Acas with the intention of concluding a full and final agreement." |
| Mr Higson said that his focus would now move to making sure that customers were affected as little as possible by the three days of industrial action. | Mr Higson said that his focus would now move to making sure that customers were affected as little as possible by the three days of industrial action. |
| He said he hoped to have the backlog of mail cleared by early next week. | He said he hoped to have the backlog of mail cleared by early next week. |
| On Friday, 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres by reading and entering mail addresses, are due to strike. | On Friday, 400 workers at three sites in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke, who assist mail centres by reading and entering mail addresses, are due to strike. |
| Then on Saturday it will be the turn of 77,000 delivery and collection staff across the UK. | Then on Saturday it will be the turn of 77,000 delivery and collection staff across the UK. |