"Royal Mail deal with union suspended as row reignites over ‘toxic’ environment", 24 May 2023

A ballot of Royal Mail workers on a deal struck last month to end a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions has been suspended as the row between the postal firm and its union threatened to reignite.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said it had become clear the environment in which it was attempting to achieve the agreement remained “toxic”.

The union said on Wednesday it would suspend the previous timetable for a member vote until it was satisfied that “attacks” on its members have ended.

Royal Mail agreed a new deal with the union in April after months of tense negotiations. The postal service operator blamed the strikes for a £1bn loss reported last week, and its chief executive, Simon Thompson, resigned earlier this month.

In a message to members, the CWU’s general secretary, Dave Ward, and its deputy general secretary, Andy Furey, claimed the company had not stopped “attacks” against union members in the workplace...

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “We fully support this deal and hope that CWU members accept it in the forthcoming ballot. The need to change is critical so that we can improve our quality of service, deliver for our customers and get back to profitability.

“The sooner we can get a positive ballot result the sooner we can give our people the pay rise that we have agreed with the CWU and provide greater job security.”