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Planned strike action by Royal Mail workers has been called off for two weeks. The Communication Workers Union has been striking over a pay dispute and working conditions in recent weeks, and a further series of strikes involving 115,000 postal workers was set to take place in early November.
However, the CWU has called off the strike action until Saturday, November 12, following a legal letter from the Royal Mail. The union says that the letter was an “attempt to undermine the pre-existing strike ballots”, resulting in them withdrawing the industrial action notices for the next two weeks.
A spokesperson for Royal Mail confirmed the strike action had been called off. With the company set to have planned talks with the Union at Acas on Monday. They said: “The Communication Workers Union has announced it has withdrawn planned strike action in the next two weeks.
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“Royal Mail and CWU have planned talks at Acas on Monday 31 October 2022. We will continue to do all we can to keep business, companies and the country connected.”
Strikes were initially planned for November 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10 – with the CWU calling for the company to address their concerns regarding pay increases and working practices. CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “We recognise the deep frustration felt by many members over this decision.
(Image: Corey Bedford/LeicestershireLive)
“But the fact remains that the current direction of Royal Mail doesn’t benefit the company, the community or the country. We still need to secure a decent future of this industry, and no attempts to attack our union and our members will change our determination in fighting for that.
“The current focus of the coming days will be negotiations that can hopefully achieve a sensible deal to end this dispute. In the meantime, I appeal to our members to stand by their union – stay strong and don’t be provoked.”
(Image: Corey Bedford/LeicestershireLive)
CWU acting deputy ceneral secretary Andy Furey said: “We entirely understand the anger felt by many over the decision, but we believe it is a necessary move to protect our dispute. Our members have been facing down serious harassment from the highest levels of Royal Mail as they defend their industry and those communities they serve.
“They will not be forced into submission so easily, and we will be reminding the company of their determination at ACAS in the coming days.”
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