115,000 Royal Mail workers could stage 8 days of strikes as posties vote for new action

Posties had already voted for four days of strike action and now more days are planned in a dispute over terms and conditions

Royal Mail workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes in a second ballot over terms and conditions, the Communication Workers Union has announced.

It’s believed CWU chiefs plan to announce further strike days over terms and conditions in the coming days.

Those would come on top of the four already announced over pay last week by the union, with 115,000 members already expected to walk out on August 26 and 31 and September 8 and 9.

A union source said: “I think by the end of September you are going to be looking at eight days”.

The action comes amid widespread distruption on the rail network and plans for strike ballots among nurses, teachers, and civil servants planned for the autumn months, as inflation hits record levels.

Members of the CWU backed strikes by 98.7% on a turnout of more than 72% and it will be the first national walkout of postal staff, including delivery workers and those in sorting offices, since 2013.

Announcing the action, the union also called for Royal Mail’s CEOs to “consider their positions”.

Dave Ward, general secretary of the CWU, said: “Today’s result is another rejection of those at the top of the Royal Mail who should consider their positions.

“Postal workers in this country are being pushed to the edge, but there can be no doubt that they will fight for the planned erosion of their workplace rights with determination.”

he added: “This union will fight this disgraceful state of affairs every step of the way. The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s management is simple: do right by your workers.”

Deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger also said the 115,000 members were being “treated with contempt”.

He said: “The ongoing attempts of Royal Mail Group to whittle away people’s hard-won working conditions will be met with fierce opposition.

“For far too long now, Royal Mail Group have been trying to pick a fight, treating our members like they are the dirt they walk on.

“But Royal Mail Group have completely failed to recognise the strength of feeling that exists against them.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Instead of engaging meaningfully on change that will secure future jobs, the CWU has decided to ballot against change.

“We are losing £1 million a day and we need to change what we are doing to fix the situation and protect jobs.

“This change is also needed to support the pay package we have offered to CWU grade colleagues, worth up to 5.5%. This is the biggest increase we have offered for many years and the CWU have rejected it.

“This would add around £230 million to Royal Mail’s annual people costs when the business is already loss-making.

“The CWU has put forward ideas for change that would cost over £1 billion while not delivering the changes needed to ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry.

“These actions do not represent a union that supports change. We wanted to meet this week but were disappointed the CWU couldn’t make it – we hope to meet next week. The CWU have their heads in the sand and are failing to grasp the seriousness of the situation.”