Post strikes 'self-defeating' says Mandelson

Tue Oct 20 2009 16:43:17

Lord Mandelson has urged union members to call off planned walk-outs at Royal Mail, warning that industrial action would be "totally self-defeating".

The Business Secretary has warned management, staff and union members that the strikes "will not resolve" the dispute over pay and conditions.

With the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) and Royal Mail chiefs locked in last ditch talks to avoid Thursday's threatened national strike, Lord Mandelson says it would be easier for conciliation service Acas to play an effective role in ending the dispute, if the CWU calls off the strike.

The Royal Mail's management have indicated they would attend talks at Acas if the CWU called off the walkout by up to 120,000 union members.

In a statement to the House of Lords, the Business Secretary said a strike would "only serve to drive more customers away from Royal Mail" and its reputation for reliability would be "irrevocably damaged".

He added that the Government policy on the company's pension black hole would not be dictated by strike action.

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