Royal Mail workers announce biggest strike of the summer

‘Pushed to the brink’

Dave Ward, general secretary of the CWU, said: “Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, but postal workers are being pushed to the brink. There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.”

He added: “Postal workers won’t meekly accept their living standards being hammered by greedy business leaders who are completely out of touch with modern Britain. They are sick of corporate failure getting rewarded again and again. The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s leadership is simple – there will be serious disruption until you get real on pay.”

But Royal Mail warned the strike action would cripple the postal service on the days targeted, leaving millions of households waiting for important letters.

A company spokesman said special deliveries, tracked parcels, Covid testing kits and medical prescriptions would be “prioritised” but admitted that the industrial action meant that on-time delivery could not be guaranteed during the industrial action.

Ricky McAulay, Royal Mail’s operations director, said: “After more than three months of talks, the CWU have failed to engage in any meaningful discussion on the changes we need to modernise, or to come up with alternative ideas.

“Royal Mail can have a bright future, but we can’t achieve that by living in the past.

“The CWU’s failure to engage on the changes we need is an abdication of responsibility for the long-term job security of their members.

“We apologise to our customers for the disruption that CWU’s industrial action will cause.”