THE assistant secretary of the Communication Workers Union Assistant Secretary says unions aren’t “coordinating” to plot a General Strike.

But Andy Furey admitted unions were “converging” in a bid to secure better terms for members.

Speaking to GB News today (SAT) he said: “It’s convergence. So many sectors are facing an onslaught of attacks on terms and conditions. So it’s only right and just that working class people stand up for themselves and they’re doing that democratically. They’re doing it legally. They’re delivering through the ballot box. We now have high thresholds to pass in ballots we didn’t use to have and we have to give two weeks notice of strike action.”

On the industrial action being taken by Royal Mail, whose workers the CWU represent, Mr Furey continued: “It does take two to tango and the CWU is prepared to compromise. We’ve made our position clear on matters where we’re willing to work with the company, but there are issues that are completely unacceptable. And one of them is compulsory dances, we cannot tolerate that in an iconic industry such as Royal Mail.”
Meanwhile, Labour MP Steve McCabe has spoken out on the growing number of disputes, and insisted his party was not backing either side.

“Labour’s neutral,” Mr McCabe told GB News. “We honestly believe that all of these workers have a legitimate case and what we’re saying is that the government should facilitate meaningful and helpful negotiations. I can see from the people I’ve spoken to that people are realistic. They’re not oblivious to the economic circumstances of the country. But what they do feel is that the Government has deliberately taken advantage of the situation.”

Mr McCabe admitted it was right that some workers – including those involved in delivering lifesaving care – should face measures that make it harder to strike.
He added: “I think it is the Government’s responsibility to create minimum standard requirements (as to who can strike). But it’s also the Government’s responsibility to try and ensure that things don’t get to the crisis point that we’re reaching now.”