29 October 2009 – News Release:

This morning, Globis founder and MD Clive Lewis, was interviewed live on BBC Radio 5’s Wake Up to Money show. Yesterday, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) informed its members that strikes would be going ahead from today. Both sides have indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue, but sticking points appear to be preventing progress.

Clive Lewis talked about the benefits that mediation brings when parties are in dispute. He discussed how mediators work hard to establish the interests of the parties and attempt to close any gaps.

What is the dispute about?

In 2007, the two sides agreed a Pay and Modernisation agreement. The agreement had 4 phases. The CWU says that Royal Mail has carried out 3 of the 4 planned phases. The 4^th phase is proving to be more difficult to work through. The main sticking points appear to be about the organisations plans for modernisation and the potential impact on job security. Royal Mail is losing £170m per year through a drop in the number of letters and parcels being delivered. To respond to this decline, a number of staffing cuts are being proposed. Royal made a profit in 2008 for the first time in 20 years.

What strike action is planned?

• At 4.00am today, 44, 000 staff in mail centres, delivery units in mail centres, network logistic drivers and garage staff walked out
• Tomorrow, staff at centres in Plymouth, Stockport and Stoke will go on strike
• On Saturday, 77,000 delivery and collection staff will walk out

Mediation is a process that is future focussed. It is less concerned about who is right or wrong. It is more concerned about solving problems so that they don’t occur again. Mediation is used to solve thousands of disputes in the UK every year and succeeds in around 90% of cases. You can listen to the live interview by clicking here. The interview starts 20 minutes into the programme.

Note to Editors:

• Globis is one of the UK’s leading providers of workplace mediation services
• Globis founder and director, Clive Lewis is a Board member of the Civil Mediation Council and Author of ‘The Definitive Guide to Mediation at Work’
• A new ACAS code of practice introducing mediation for the first time was introduced in April 2009
• Globis recently trained 16 mediators at East Sussex County Council leading to the implementation of an in-house mediation scheme which has delivered cost savings of £500,000 in one year. East Sussex County Council is on the short list for the CIPD 2009 awards for the introduction of the scheme.

For more information please call Clive Lewis or Jack Fallow on 0800 345 7703 or email info@globis.co.uk