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(Alliance News) - A ballot of International Distributions Services PLC's Royal Mail workers on a deal aimed at ending a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions has been suspended by their union.
The Communication Workers Union said it had become clear that the environment it was attempting to deliver the agreement in remained "toxic".
In a message to members, general secretary Dave Ward and deputy general secretary Andy Furey said the company had not stopped "attacks" against union members in the workplace.
They said the proposed agreement, set against the "most brutal dispute in our history, a self-inflicted but very real financial crisis for the company and jointly agreed need for change", would secure the future of the company, jobs, and the service.
They continued: "However, what has become clear is the environment we are attempting to deliver this agreement in remains toxic. Royal Mail Group has not stepped back from their attacks in the workplace. This became more evident when they announced their quality of service results and failed to take any responsibility whatsoever for the disastrous position the company finds itself in.
"Unless Royal Mail Group openly accept that their culture of imposition and the 'our business to run' mantra must go – then the integrity of the negotiators agreement will be irreparably damaged."
The union said it had made it clear to Royal Mail that unless quality of service is restored and "failed revisions" affecting workers were tackled, the business will not succeed.
The union's postal executive said it had decided to suspend the vote on the proposed national agreement until moves were made to restore quality of service and "genuinely review all failed revisions".
A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: "We fully support this deal and hope that CWU members accept it in the forthcoming ballot.
"The need to change is critical so that we can improve our quality of service, deliver for our customers and get back to profitability.
"The sooner we can get a positive ballot result the sooner we can give our people the pay rise that we have agreed with the CWU and provide greater job security."
International Distributions Services shares were 1.5% lower at 197.52 pence each on Wednesday afternoon in London.
By Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
Press Association: Finance
source: PA
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