Tuesday 18 August 2009

Problems for Royal Mail





This week will see further strike action by members of the CWU (Communication Workers Union) within Royal Mail as a result of disagreements over job cuts and reductions in service. As ever, there are two sides to every dispute.
The Trade Union believes that Royal Mail is failing to invest properly in modernisation and is removing jobs without agreement;
Royal Mail believe that changes are essential, but the Trade Union is opposing them
The Trade Union believes that service quality will be compromised by the reduction in jobs;
Royal Mail believe that the Trade Union need to join the Company in tackling the challenge by the increase in electronic media
The Trade Union have called a series of strikes in key locations over the next week to highlight their case;
Royal Mail have condemned the CWU for striking locally over much-needed modernisation and change and said that they are expecting 90% of their staff to be working normally.
  • Which government agency could be involved in mediating in such a dispute?
  • What steps must a Trade Union take before calling its members out on strike?
  • What action can (and can't!) a company take against striking employees?
  • What other examples are there of organisations that have struggled to introduce change to working practices as a result of technological change?
  • Now that the Royal Mail no longer has a monopoly over the delivery of mail in the UK, how is this likely to restrict the immediate impact of the strike action?
  • Further Research Activity: compare the cost of sending a simple letter through thedomestic mail in different coutries. Do your findings make you more supportive of either the Royal Mail or the Trade Union

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