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Cambridgeshire postal workers are among around 115,000 Royal Mail staff taking part in a four-day strike beginning today (August 26). Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) say that they are “striking for a pay rise that fully addresses the current cost of living”.
97.6 per cent of CWU members at Royal Mail who participated in a ballot voted to take industrial action over pay. Royal Mail, which employs a total of 140,000 staff including managers, has offered workers a two per cent pay rise backdated to April.
Further benefits equivalent to a three and a half per cent have also been offered if workers agree to changes in working practices. Inflation is currently at 10.1 per cent, the highest rate in 40 years, and is expected to pass 13 per cent later this year.
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Around 25 workers have been on a picket outside the Cambridge Delivery Office on Clifton Road since 5:30am. Paul Sparks, a member of CWU, said: “A two per cent pay rise is a disgrace.
“Postal workers played a huge part during Covid. In my opinion, the posties’ work lifted the nation. Everybody was stuck at home and the posties were still delivering their mail.”
(Image: Cambridge News)
In terms of the public response to the strike, Mr Sparks said: “I think it’s a great public service. Hopefully they will understand. I don’t think many of the public would accept that posties are only worth two per cent.”
Kelley Green, a Cambridge resident, joined the workers on the picket line. She said: “I am a customer of Royal Mail. I see how hard they work and how dedicated they are. They all went the extra mile to get the parcels out during the pandemic; parcels were piled high.”
Ms Green described the current pay offer as “mean and miserly”, and said: “It sends the wrong message to hard-working people. I just think it’s wrong so I am here to give my support.”
The company has said: “We’re really sorry for the disruption that this strike action is likely to cause to you. We want to reassure you we will do everything we can to minimise disruption and get our services back to normal as quickly as possible.
“Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but they cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce. We will be doing what we can to keep services running, but customers should expect significant disruption.”
During days of strike action, including August 31, and September 8 and 9, Royal Mail have said that they will deliver as many ‘Special Delivery’ and Tracked24 parcels as possible, as well as prioritising the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible. Letters will not be delivered, with the exception of those which are ‘Special Delivery’.
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