Royal Mail accused over pay offer

The Royal Mail was accused of trying to provoke a dispute after deciding to impose a 2.9 per cent pay offer that has been rejected by postal workers' leaders.

The Communication Workers Union said the imposition was a "blatantly hostile act" and warned that a confrontation seemed inevitable.

Union leaders had rejected the offer and called for further talks but revealed that the Royal Mail had decided to impose the deal.

Dave Ward, Deputy General Secretary, said: "An offer of 2.9 % is not enough, but imposing the pay offer is premature and a blatantly hostile act by Royal Mail. We are refusing to be pulled onto the punch today, but with Royal Mail's prevailing attitude a confrontation seems inevitable in the near future. The union will be considering its response."

A row broke out between the Royal Mail and the CWU over claims that workers were being "gagged" over their views on share ownership.

The CWU claimed that managers were ripping down posters explaining a ballot on pay. The voting is said by the CWU to be a referendum on its agenda for pay and conditions, which is at odds with controversial plans for share ownership.

The union said it had been told it could not hold the ballot on work premises.

Billy Hayes, the union's general secretary, said: "For a public company to deny the opportunity of the workforce to express an opinion and also to seek to undermine the Labour Party manifesto commitment to keep Royal Mail in the public sector is deeply disturbing for standards in public life.

"It has been made clear - both by Government and the CWU's lawyers - that any dispersal of shares to private individuals would require an Act of Parliament."

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "There is a clear and agreed industrial relations framework and a union consultative ballot doesn't qualify for facilities support."