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Striking Royal Mail workers are in it for “the long haul”, their union leader has said today as they staged fresh industrial action in a bitter dispute over pay and conditions.
Staff in Darwen and across the country have walked out today as two days of industrial action began.
Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), joined a picket line outside a Royal Mail delivery centre in Camden, north London, at the start of a 48-hour walkout which will disrupt postal services.
The union has announced a further 48-hour stoppage from September 30, with no sign that the deadlocked row can be resolved soon.
Mr Ward said: “Imposing a two per cent pay increase on the workers who kept the company going during the pandemic, made the company record profits during the pandemic, whilst the bosses walked away with huge astronomical bonuses for apparently hitting all their financial targets, is just insulting.
“I have never known workers in Royal Mail to be so angry towards the employer.”
He said the union’s 115,000 members are in the dispute for the “long haul”, adding that they will be fighting to get “the pay deal they deserve”.
The union said postal workers face a “dramatic” reduction in living standards because of the soaring rate of inflation.
The staff on strike in Darwen were in good spirits on the picket line today outside Darwen Delivery Office, and received plenty of honks of support from drivers as they went past along The Circus.
CWU deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger said: “Our members worked miracles during the pandemic and know full well what they are worth.
“They are fighting for a no-strings, real-terms pay rise – something they are fully entitled to.
“Our members deserve a pay rise that rewards their fantastic achievements in keeping the country connected during the pandemic, but also helps them keep up during this current economic crisis.
“We won’t be backing down until we get just that.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “The CWU’s decision to announce further strike action is placing jobs at risk.
“Royal Mail is losing £1 million a day. Strike action has weakened our financial position and is threatening the long-term job security of our postmen and women.
“The CWU has a responsibility to recognise the reality of the situation Royal Mail faces as a business and to engage urgently on the changes required.
“We are now a parcels business. We must adapt old ways of working designed for letters to a world increasingly dominated by parcels and act fast.
“We want to protect well-paid, permanent jobs long term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay, terms and conditions.
“The CWU rejected our offer worth up to 5.5 per cent for CWU grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years.
“In a business that is currently losing £1m a day, we can only fund this offer by agreeing the changes that will pay for it.
“We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU’s continued strike action will cause.
“We are doing all we can to minimise any delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.”
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