Royal Mail and Unite agree pay deal for managers

Royal Mail has reached an agreement with Unite and made an improved offer to thousands of managers who had threatened to take industrial action.

The company agreed to a 1.6% increase in basic pay, through to allowances, regional pay and overtime from September 2015. It also applied a 1.3% increase from September 2016.

The agreement also said if the August retail price index (RPI) figure is outside the range of 1.05% to 1.55%, either Royal Mail or Unite can seek further discussions for the September 2016 pay round. The next pay review will be in September 2017.

The offer is subject to a ballot by Unite members, but the union said it would recommend they accept the offer. The negotiations affect junior and middle managers in Royal Mail Group only, excluding Parcelforce Worldwide.

Subsequent to the agreement, Unite has suspended its work to rule, overtime ban and other industrial action. Originally, Royal Mail managers had rejected a 1.3% pay offer and voted for industrial action.

Brian Scott, Unite officer for Royal Mail managers said: “Unite will be recommending the pay package to our 4,800 manager members who showed exemplary solidarity during this dispute which enabled us to reach this agreement.

“Equally importantly, Unite welcomes the commitment from Royal Mail to urgently examine issues that the union has identified as of being concern to our members and which affect them at work.

“Unite will be balloting its members with a positive recommendation to accept the offer of 1.6% from September 2015 and 1.3% from September 2016. The ballot will happen as soon as practical.”