Mail deliveries to be affected as yet more strikes announced over ‘hammering’ of living standards

Royal Mail deliveries will be halted for four days later this month and at the beginning of September as 115,000 postal workers will go on strike for a “dignified, proper pay rise”.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) – which represents Royal Mail Workers – have announced strike action to take place on Friday, August 26, Wednesday, August 31, Thursday, September 8, and Friday, September 9.

Chief among their demands, is an increase in pay which reflects the challenges facing working people brought about by the cost of living crisis.

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Following negotiations ongoing between the union and Royal Mail, workers were offered a two per cent increase by bosses, with a further 1.5 per cent dependant on the erosion of terms and conditions and a £500 “above and beyond” bonus for reaching targets which union reps say that even the company know are unachievable”. Royal Mail says this works out to a 5.5 per cent increase.

Craig Anderson CWU Regional Secretary for Scotland, said that the union is already in discussions with Royal Mail about modernisation and that the 1.5 per cent of the offer contingent on the ripping up of the current terms and conditions ignores this process.

He added: “Rather than addressing the issue with regards to our pay rise, they want to add in lots of other things when we’ve already met with the company to discuss changes to the business.”

The decision to go on strike was supported by the vast majority of CWU members, with 97.6 per cent of a turnout of 77 per cent voting for it in a recent ballot.

CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, but postal workers are being pushed to the brink.”

This sentiment was echoed by Craig Anderson, who said: “Our members are like everyone else, they’re struggling right now. The cost of energy, the cost of food, the cost of petrol right now is crippling some of the workers at the moment.”

Dave Ward criticised the level of profit at Royal Mail, whilst workers are being offered a below inflation pay offer.

“We can’t keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks.

“When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758 million in profit and shareholders pocketing in excess of £400 million, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company.

“Postal workers won’t meekly accept their living standards being hammered by greedy business leaders who are completely out of touch with modern Britain.

“They are sick of corporate failure getting rewarded again and again.”

A spokesperson from Royal Mail said: “This decision by the CWU is an abdication of responsibility for the long-term job security of its members.

“In more than three months of talks, CWU has failed to engage meaningfully on the business changes required.

“The negative commercial impact of any strike action will only make pay rises less affordable and could put jobs at risk.

“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.”

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