The Communication Workers Union has announced its decision to extend the deadline for Royal Mail to settle its pensions dispute to 6 September 2017.

The new deadline gives Royal Mail Group a further two weeks to come forward with an amended pension proposal that satisfies its members.

Earlier this year Royal Mail confirmed its plans for a new pension scheme that comprises of a defined benefit cash balance scheme and a defined contribution scheme that will be funded within its current £400m annual pension contribution.

The company is offering its employees a choice between a DB scheme and a DC scheme, which have been set up as new sections of the Royal Mail Pension Plan. Royal Mail is one of few companies replacing one DB scheme with another.

Nonetheless, the firm’s plan has been met with considerable rejection from worker’s unions CWU and Unite.

With the new date, the CWU has delayed its plans to ballot for industrial action on the matter.

In an online Facebook video to members, CWU deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger explained: “We have designed a timetable to give Royal Mail Group a further chance to move things forward sufficiently that we don’t have to give notice for industrial action. That of course, is our key objective to reach an agreement here.

“I believe this a pragmatic position. I believe that is this trade union being responsible.

“We have all agreed that we give more time for those talks and that is exactly what we have done. So there is every opportunity no for the company to come in the room and negotiate a settlement that is the one that we would consider sufficient progress to avoid giving notice for industrial action.”

In addition to Pullinger’s statement, the union has sent letter to branches explaining the CWU talks with Royal Mail and an individual members’ letter reiterating the main points CWU is dealing with.

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