‘Cause for concern’

Today’s (Thursday January 5) announcement that the Royal Mail has started a consultation process on the future of its pension plan is ‘a matter of concern’, Unite said.

The Royal Mail said it was consulting with the trade unions about the future of the plan from April 2018.

“This is a cause for concern to Unite and we will be looking to mitigate the impact of any proposed changes during and after the consultation process,” commented Brian Scott, Unite officer for the Royal Mail.

“We will also be strongly encouraging our members to participate in the consultation process.

“The consultation is complex and the company needs to ensure that its employees, our members, clearly understand the potential impact on them, and the reasons and justification for the proposed changes,” he explained.

The company statement said, “The member-wide consultation phase will end on March 10, 2017. No decisions will be made until the consultation process is completed, Royal Mail has considered members’ views and discussed responses with its unions as part of the pension review process.”

Added Scott, “It is too early to make any pronouncements on industrial action, but if the company does not respond positively on this and other issues we cannot rule this out.”