“Acas has been highly involved in helping to resolve this long-running dispute, so I'm very pleased that Royal Mail and the CWU have now reached a provisional agreement. There is now a great opportunity for both parties to modernise and transform the business.
I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work of the Acas team, led by Chief Conciliator Peter Harwood, which has helped facilitate and chair over 50 meetings between the parties. This has enabled various groups of Royal Mail and CWU negotiators to achieve a lasting agreement, running to over 80 pages.
I would also like to record our thanks to Roger Poole for his determination and drive in encouraging the parties to achieve the deal. We echo his sentiments in hoping that it will enable Royal Mail and CWU to go forward together to secure a successful future for the business - in the interests of Royal Mail, its employees and its customers.
The negotiators on both sides also deserve thanks for the sensible and constructive approach they have taken. Talks were not always easy, especially at first, but parties have made great efforts to look for reasons to agree and move forward together with a real desire to create a better, more trusting relationship. That has to be the foundation for a brighter future.
We look forward to hearing that CWU members have accepted the agreement and we stand ready to provide further assistance to support its implementation.
