8th Nov 2019 08:34
(Alliance News) - Royal Mail PLC on Friday said it is applying to the UK High Court for an injunction against the planned Communication Workers Union strike in December.
The mail and package delivery company is seeking an interim order to injunct CWU over a recent postal ballot of Royal Mail employees for industrial action. Royal Mail's grounds for the injunction is its belief in "potential irregularities in the ballot" that would make it "unlawful".
Another motive behind the injunction is Royal Mail's concern over strike action around the December 12 election, and its potential damage to the company and customers so close to Christmas.
Royal Mail said is has supplied evidence to the High Court that some or all of the following occurred: members being asked to intercept and remove ballot papers before they were delivered; members being instructed to approve the strike and encouraged to do so in groups; and members being encouraged to open ballot papers on site and vote "yes" while colleagues were present and either filmed or photographed.
"The company believes the evidence demonstrates that CWU officials, including coordination and direction at a senior level, have planned and orchestrated breaches of their legal obligations," said Royal Mail.
The Royal Mail injunction, if granted, would not apply to Parcelforce employees as they had separate ballot notices.
Shares in Royal Mail were down 1.0% at 220.70 pence in London on Friday morning.
By Anna Farley; [email protected]
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