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JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN PARCELFORCE AND THE CWU

MINIMISING DISRUPTION DURING INDUSTRIAL ACTION IN ROYAL MAIL LETTERS & POST OFFICE®

As you know the CWU has announced the dates for industrial action in Royal Mail Letters and Post Office®.  The purpose of this joint statement is to clarify the position for Parcelforce Worldwide employees and CWU members regarding this official dispute and to also provide guidance for individuals on this matter.  

As far as the legal position is concerned Parcelforce Worldwide employees/CWU members are not part of the official dispute. They have not been balloted for Industrial Action as there is no trade dispute with Parcelforce Worldwide. Therefore they should report for work as normal.  

We are acutely aware that many of our Parcelforce Worldwide employees/CWU members will potentially have family members and close friends who will be taking part in the Industrial Action and who may also be part of the official picket lines at their own places of work.  

The priority for CWU members in Parcelforce Worldwide is to work in such a way as to ensure our normal good service to customers is maintained.  CWU members in Royal Mail and Post Office® are aware that you are not involved in the dispute, and should not interfere with you going about your normal business.  Equally, Parcelforce Worldwide will not ask its CWU members to undertake any work that would normally be done by CWU members in the other businesses who are in dispute  

At sites where Parcelforce Worldwide employees share the premises with RM staff (e.g. customer contact centres, London Central, Aberdeen , Plymouth ) we will discuss arrangements for them to get into work as normal.  We expect that any pickets would not seek to stop our people going into work as they are unaffected by the dispute.  

Where one of our drivers is due to drop off items at a Post Office branch or pick up a collection from them during the period of a strike in Post Office®, alternative arrangements will be made if there are concerns or conscience issues about crossing picket lines.  

Any necessary local variations to normal day working will be discussed with the local representative and the fullest possible dialogue will take place with affected employees in order to reassure people, take account of any issues they have and address any concerns.  

We are very aware that this is a difficult period that may prove awkward for some of our people, against that backdrop we assure everybody that we are committed to addressing any issues affecting Parcelforce Worldwide employees/CWU members through joint dialogue and consultation, and with sensitivity. Any issues or concerns you may have should be raised with your unit rep and/or your manager, and they should be able to assist you.

Peter Walls                                                                  Terry Pullinger

Head of Employee Relations                                          Assistant Secretary

Parcelforce Worldwide                                                   Communication Workers’ Union

25 June 2007

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