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Royal Mail eyes last-gasp talks Royal Mail eyes last-gasp talks
(1 day later)
Royal Mail has written to conciliation service Acas, offering to meet the Communication Workers Union (CWU) ahead of a proposed strike.Royal Mail has written to conciliation service Acas, offering to meet the Communication Workers Union (CWU) ahead of a proposed strike.
The company insisted it was not making any concessions, but was seeking to again explain its position.The company insisted it was not making any concessions, but was seeking to again explain its position.
Last week Royal Mail insisted that the organisation could not afford to improve its 2.5% pay offer, despite staff voting for strike action.Last week Royal Mail insisted that the organisation could not afford to improve its 2.5% pay offer, despite staff voting for strike action.
The CWU is due to set dates for a series of national walkouts.The CWU is due to set dates for a series of national walkouts.
'Combative' tone'Combative' tone
"Royal Mail is contacting Acas, not to make any concessions in our position, but to try to explain to the union once again the very serious challenges the business now faces in an open, competitive market," a spokesman said."Royal Mail is contacting Acas, not to make any concessions in our position, but to try to explain to the union once again the very serious challenges the business now faces in an open, competitive market," a spokesman said.
He added it hoped to highlight "the huge damage a strike would do to all of our people and to our customers".He added it hoped to highlight "the huge damage a strike would do to all of our people and to our customers".
According to the Sunday Telegraph, the letter sent by chief executive Alan Crozier to Acas was "combative" in tone.According to the Sunday Telegraph, the letter sent by chief executive Alan Crozier to Acas was "combative" in tone.
Mr Crozier accused the CWU of "protracted national wrangling over every small piece of change", the newspaper said.Mr Crozier accused the CWU of "protracted national wrangling over every small piece of change", the newspaper said.
The CWU has said the strikes will go ahead unless a breakthrough is reached.The CWU has said the strikes will go ahead unless a breakthrough is reached.
However both sides have said they are keen for fresh talks.However both sides have said they are keen for fresh talks.
'In denial''In denial'
In an interview with the BBC last week, Royal Mail's chairman, Allan Leighton insisted he had no room to manoeuvre on money.In an interview with the BBC last week, Royal Mail's chairman, Allan Leighton insisted he had no room to manoeuvre on money.
"The money on the table is the money on the table because that is what the business can afford," he said."The money on the table is the money on the table because that is what the business can afford," he said.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward earlier this week accused Royal Mail bosses of "being in denial".CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward earlier this week accused Royal Mail bosses of "being in denial".
"It is outrageous that the business is ignoring the clear message from their workforce and appear to be provoking a postal strike rather than resolving one," he said."It is outrageous that the business is ignoring the clear message from their workforce and appear to be provoking a postal strike rather than resolving one," he said.
If a nationwide postal strike does go ahead, it would be the first since 1996.If a nationwide postal strike does go ahead, it would be the first since 1996.
About 77% of Royal Mail's CWU members voted for the strike action. About 77% of Royal Mail's CWU members who took part in a ballot voted for the strike action, on a turnout of 60%.