What does the Law Say about the Postal Strikes?
Added: (Wed Oct 28 2009)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
The Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail are embroiled in a war of words played out through the media. Employment Disputes cost time and money but whose side is the law on?
A poll of public opinion by Radio 4 recently found that people who sympathised with the postal workers on strike were outnumbered by 2:1 who were in support of Royal Mail. Anybody would want to have decent pay and conditions at work, but the public are inconvenienced by the strikes and are less sympathetic with the postal workers, who apparently have satisfactory conditions.
Other strikes happening across the country include Council workers in Leeds, whose streets are becoming litter strewn thanks to refuse workers joining the action, Teachers held a strike earlier this year and British Airways Cabin Crew also plan strikes. The usual way to resolve these strikes is through professional Arbitration, a process of bargaining and thrashing out the differences until an agreement is reached.
Wolstenholmes Solicitors specialise in Employment Law and have experience of Mediation. A spokesperson commented this morning “a strike situation is no win on either side. Workers are not paid whilst on strike and management have to find ways to get the work done. Hiring Temporary staff can aggravate the situation and in some instances, management could find themselves sued by the Union, as the postal workers are threatening now.”
How can the strike action be drawn to a close? “Arbitration is a legal process that allows both parties to have a say. Essentially both sides will need to enter discussions with ACAS. Once in discussion one or both sides will usually compromise their terms to break the impasse. With the current postal strikes, it appears neither side is willing to back down yet, but ultimately that is where the situation will end up.”
Both sides are currently talking to the TUC (Trades Union Congress) and both have stated that no preconditions will apply to discussions. In the mean time, two further strikes are threatened nationwide this Thursday and Friday. It is all entirely legal and though it’s right for workers to have a say in their pay and conditions, they risk losing public support as these strikes drag on.
For help with an Employment issue, please visit http://www.wolstenholmes.co.uk/employment.html
Lucy Bower