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Royal Mail and Post Office staff are set to become the latest workers to take industrial action during what many now refer to as the “Summer of Discontent” which has seen strikes across multiple sectors. Both rail workers and barristers have ended up taking strike action recently over pay and working conditions, with airline staff and other sectors also highly likely to see upcoming disruption.
Unite, the union which represents many Royal Mail workers, has announced strikes over what they describe as plans to axe 700 jobs and cut pay by up to £7,000. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described Royal Mail as being “awash with cash” but “putting profits and dividends for the few at the top ahead of its duties as a public service.”
Additionally, Unite national officer with responsibility for Royal Mail, Mike Eatwell, said: “We have taken another detailed look at Royal Mail’s proposals, and it is worse than we first thought. The business is seeking to cut 700 posts on top of the 1,200 cut last year. It is already running on fumes, depending on Unite members’ dedication and professionalism to hold the service together.
Read more:Royal Mail having to decide which streets will not get deliveries, MPs told
“For those managers who remain, they face cuts to their salaries of up to £7,000. People who gave their working lives to this business will lose their homes. It is no wonder then that our members are angry and ready to take strike action.”
Royal Mail said there were no grounds for the strikes and that it has contingency plans to help minimise disruption to the public.
Members of the Communication Workers Union, representing many Post Office workers, are also taking industrial action. CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: “Our members feel betrayed and will not tolerate their living standards being smashed by people in charge of a public service that due to our members’ efforts made tens of millions of pounds in annual profits.”
The Post Office said it was disappointed by the action but hoped to reach an agreement soon.
When are Royal Mail and Post Office strikes taking place?
Unite members in Royal Mail will be “working to rule” between July 15 and July 19 before taking part in strike action on 20, 21 and 22 July. Communication Workers Union members working at Crown Post Offices (usually larger branches in city centres and high streets) are walking out today (July 11), followed by Supply Chain and Admin members, who will resume strike action on July 14.
What is the likely effect of the strikes?
Unite claims Royal Mail is “running on empty” and “depending on thousands of unpaid hours provided by managers to hold the service together” and says that 2,400 managers will be “working to rule” between July 15 and 19. Those managers will work strictly according to their contracted hours and duties during the time they are working to rule.
While the same managers will be walking out later in July, Royal Mail has claimed: “We have contingency plans in place to minimise disruption for customers in the event of industrial action, and we will work to keep people, businesses and the country connected.”
The Post Office has stated that out of 114 branches affected by strike action today, “over a third have opened as usual”. Regarding the upcoming action planned for July 14, the CWU says their strike will “halt cash deliveries & collections at all 11,500 UK post offices”.
Read more of today’s UK news here
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