Hundreds of Merseyside Royal Mail workers take part in strike

Hundreds of Royal Mail workers across Merseyside are set to go on strike on one of the busiest days of the year, Black Friday.

Thousands of Royal Mail workers across the UK, who are members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) went out on strike on Thursday, November 24, as part of a 48-hour strike over pay and conditions. The postal workers are striking on one of the busiest days of the year for delivery companies, Black Friday.

The long-running dispute revolves around pay, jobs and conditions. Royal Mail said it had made its “best and final offer” and accused the union of “holding Christmas to ransom”. But the CWU said the offer would “spell the end of Royal Mail as we know it”.

READ MORE: Encrochat drug dealing suspect named after extradition from Holland

Hundreds of workers in Merseyside went on strike including members in Liverpool North and South, Prenton and the Speke distribution office. Pictures shared by CWU showed many of them holding their arms up in solidarity.

Further strike action is planned for November 30 and 1 December – just two days after Cyber Monday, and on six days in December, including Christmas Eve.

The long-running dispute revolves around pay, jobs and conditions. The CWU said Royal Mail’s plans to change the way the postal system worked, would turn it into “a gig economy-style parcel courier, reliant on casual labour”.

The company said in a statement that it had offered staff a 9% pay rise over 18 months, was committing to make Sunday working voluntary, and would make no compulsory redundancies before March next year.

Royal Mail’s chief executive, Simon Thompson, said: “We want to reach a deal, but time is running out for the CWU to change their position and avoid further damaging strike action.”

Curtis Warren freed after 14 years and ‘back in Liverpool’

Parents rushed teen to A&E after headteacher’s worried phone call

Find the coins hidden on the ECHO website for the chance to win a £200 voucher

Suspect named after woman found seriously injured in car with baby