The union said it had made “significant progress” in negotiations that have taken place during the intervening weeks around the terms of the Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement.
An agreed joint statement between the two parties includes national initiatives to “support restoration of Quality of Service and the USO obligation”.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “Now it's over to you as the members. This has been a really, really bitter and long dispute. We believe it's time to settle this dispute, and we believe the agreement represents our best way forward for all of our members and for the future of the company.
“So it's over to you. Please make sure that you vote and you do so on an informed basis. We are recommending that you vote yes.”
The CWU has also agreed an additional £900 lump sum, which is on top of the £500 lump sum previously agreed, and any backpay members will be due from the 6% pay rise from April 2023.
The £900 will come from an ESCROW fund related to the Royal Mail pension scheme in case of underfunding. The CWU put in claim for the money to be used for the benefit of members.
The pension scheme is unaffected.
“You deserved more. We have delivered more,” the union said.
It's a no from me deal is a disgrace. Royal mail continues to hold all the cards. This deal will be ignored by the business as they continue to flood offices with Ryde staff. we are now deliveroo mail bloody joke
— ST4VEB0L (@STEVEBA34285817) June 20, 2023
However later starts and finishes remain controversial and problematic for many postal workers.
The CWU also said that it was now undertaking a huge engagement exercise with meetings, live sessions, podcasts, written communications and more, in order to make this “the most informed debate ever”.
Posts on social media appear to show that scores of experienced posties have already quit their roles in recent months and the outcome of the vote appears far from certain, with some vociferous and negative responses to the CWU’s updates.
The CWU Postal Executive is recommending a yes vote.
The CWU will also hold a live Q&A at 6pm today (22 June) regarding the agreement.
“Later starts, lump sum payments, revisions, independent conduct review, should we go back on strike, what is plan B, parcelforce, fleet, engineering, sick terms and more. We will cover it all,” the union stated.
The result of the ballot will be announced on 11 July.
