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Postal workers have been pictured at picket lines in Cornwall today (August 26) as part of an action that includes thousands of other workers across the country who are in a dispute over pay and working conditions. In Truro, some members taking part in the industrial action had been at the picket line outside the local depot since 5am, with dozens more joining throughout the day.
Workers were also pictured outside Penzance’s Royal Mail depot to show support for the Communication Workers Union (CWU). It is the first of four days of industrial action, with walk outs also taking place on 31 August as well as 8 and 9 September.
The union said its members are striking for a “dignified, proper pay rise” after they voted in favour by 97.6% in a ballot. General Secretary Dave Ward said: “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” as the cost of living crisis deepens. Royal Mail Group announced earlier this year that it made a £758 million profit in the last financial year and the company’s annual report revealed chief executive officer Simon Thompson got an overall annual pay and perks package worth £753,000, per The Mirror’s reporting.
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Royal Mail has offered workers a 2% pay rise that would be backdated to April and additional benefits equivalent to a 3.5% increase, if they agree to changes in working practices, according to the Guardian. However, the CWU asserts the pay raise should be in line with inflation.
As strike action is set to continue, Royal Mail has warned the public that there will be significant disruption to its services. It says that items posted the day before, during or in the days after any strike action will be subject to delay, while delivery offices and customer service points will be closed on strike days. Post offices will remain open except for a small number of branches which may be closed.
Royal Mail said: “We want to get services back to normal as quickly as possible after any strike action. After industrial action takes place, we’ll be increasing our network capacity and using additional resources to assist with getting services back to normal.
“Collections from business customers, Post Offices and post boxes will resume the day after strike action finishes. Deliveries will also resume the day after strike action finishes. This will include accelerating the delivery of NHS and healthcare letters and critical Government mailings in the days following strike action.”
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