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Derry Royal Mail workers, as well as workers across the UK, will strike this week with later strike dates also set for next month.
Royal Mail members have had an “unagreed 2 per cent pay deal imposed on them” and union members have voted to strike.
The Communications Workers Union said this is at a time when RPI inflation is currently running at 11.8 percent and when Royal Mail has announced Group profits of £758 million and when the company is paying out many millions to private shareholders.
In a national strike ballot over pay, Royal Mail members voted by a 97.6 percent majority to take action.
Union members are striking for a pay rise that fully addresses the current cost of living.
Royal Mail members have also voted by 98.7% on a 72.2% turnout for strike action in defence of our Pathway to Change national agreement.
On 16th March last year, after lengthy, detailed and comprehensive national negotiations, DGSP Terry Pullinger for the CWU and CEO Simon Thompson for the company jointly signed off the document Key Principles Framework Agreement – The Pathway To Change 2021.
It states in its opening sentences: “We all know that our industry is in a time of unprecedented change and this brings with it enormous opportunities to achieve the ambitions of our previous agreements and deliver growth in customer services, jobs and revenue.
“To make this happen we must now rebalance the focus and resources within the RMG operation from declining letters to a rapidly growing parcels market, creating a more efficient business that is better aligned to the changing needs of customers.”
The CWU says it needs no lectures from the Royal Mail senior leadership as to the nature of this current period, as to the changing needs of customers, as to what is necessary and as to what must be done.
They say that The Royal Mail company leadership has reneged on the Pathway to Change agreement’s Key Principles and has begun to impose changes without negotiation and without agreement.
The CWU has said that their members “need and deserve” a proportionate pay rise and “the company can afford it.”
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “Posties are in the fight of their lives against the Uberisation of Royal Mail and the destruction of their conditions.
“But 115,000 of our members will not just accept this war on their livelihoods and their industry.
“They will never give up the fight to protect this industry and to protect their hard-won working conditions.
“Simon Thompson has to either accept that or walk away – until he does one or the other, serious disruption will continue.”
SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood, said he is proud to support The Royal Mail workers taking strike action, “Our posties have been pushed to the brink during the cost-of-living crisis. They deserve a fair pay deal,” Mr Eastwood wrote.
“I am proud to back our Derry Royal Mail workers in their ‘No Confidence’ vote.”
Royal Mail workers are set to strike on Thursday 24th November, Friday 25th November and Wednesday 30th November.
Also, Thursday 1st December, Friday 9th December, Sunday 11th December, Wednesday 14th December, Thursday 15th December, Friday 23rd December and Saturday 24th December.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We apologise for any inconvenience the CWU’s industrial action is causing. We have well-developed contingency plans to ensure our customers are looked after, and minimise any delays to keep people, businesses and the country connected.
“We continue to advise customers to oost items as early as possible in advance of the strike dates, continue to post items at postboxes or Post Offices. However, collections will be less frequent on days when strike action is taking place. Please visit royalmail.com/latest- news for the latest detailed information on services.
“Details of our Christmas posting dates are available at https://www.royalmail.com/ christmas/last-posting-dates, and will continue to be updated to reflect any new guidance should the CWU proceed with strike action in the run-up to Christmas.”
