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UK postal workers launched what their union dubbed the “biggest strike of the summer” after negotiations between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union reached a stalemate.
More than 100,000 postal workers voted for industrial action following failed negotiations over pay and conditions. Strikes begin today and have also been called for August 31 and September 8 and 9.
“We will see a tremendous outpouring of workers’ unity in villages, towns and cities across the country,” said CWU general secretary Dave Ward.
“There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.”
Royal Mail said it offered its postal workers a 5.5 per cent pay increase — below the UK’s 10.1 per cent rate of inflation.
The CWU said Royal Mail “imposed a 2 per cent rise on workers without the agreement of the union”, which was supplemented by a conditions based offer of 1.5 per cent and a lump-sum payment of £500.
The postal service and the unionised workforce also dispute the cause of the breakdown in negotiations.
“Our door remains open,” Royal Mail said. “We were hoping to have talks this week to open our books, which we first offered to do at the AGM in June, but [the CWU] couldn’t make it.”
“The CWU have called for a summit meeting with the chair and chief executive of Royal Mail,” the union said. “Royal Mail have refused this meeting.”
Royal Mail is grappling with industrial action as the UK government uses new national security powers to review a move from Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský to raise his stake in the postal service above 25 per cent.
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