CWU members vote to accept Royal Mail pay agreement

CWU members were asked to vote on a whether they accept or reject the latest agreement, which includes a 4.2% year-one pay rise backdated to 1 April 2025.

Results of the ballot, published on Tuesday (26 August), showed 79.5% voted yes, 20.5% voted no, on a 43.5% turnout.

Commenting on the results, a CWU spokesperson told Printweek: “At a very strong ‘yes’ vote of around 4 to 1, the vote is an emphatic endorsement of the union’s current positions, and the agreements we have reached.

“We would like to thank our members for their commitment and to urge them to keep an eye out for further communications.”

Ahead of the ballot, the postal workers’ union had recommended members accept the agreement, with details shared on 3 July, following weeks of negotiations with Royal Mail’s new owner EP Group.

Weekly paid employees will now receive due backpay on 26 September, while monthly paid employees will receive the backpay on 30 September.

“This will include backpay on overtime, scheduled attendance and all elements of pay,” the CWU added.

Terms of the three-year settlement on pay and improved terms and conditions also include a CPI inflation-matching pay rise for years two and three, unless inflation drops below 2% either year, in which case employees will receive a minimum 2% rise. If inflation rises above 3% a reopener clause, allowing for renegotiation, can be triggered.

Further questions, such as around the ending of a two-tier workforce will begin to be discussed immediately, a CWU spokesperson told Printweek, with hopes that a formal agreement can be reached by December.

The union wrote on X: “We are also in the process of arranging an online briefing for all CWU local representatives and a live session for members.”