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Romford postal workers joined the picket line in a battle with Royal Mail for increased pay.
On October 13, striking members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) took to protesting outside the Romford Mail Centre in Crow Lane to demand what the union calls a “fair settlement” in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis.
Dave McPherson, CWU Romford assistant branch secretary, said a pay-rise of two per cent recently implemented by Royal Mail was “never going to be enough” while inflation reaches nearly 10pc.
“Our members are only looking for a fair pay increase that protects them against the rising bills and prices that we are all facing,” he said.
“Only a matter of months ago, Royal Mail posted profits of £758 million, and this was partly due to the magnificent efforts of postal workers during the Covid-19 pandemic who continued working and kept the country connected.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson however said it is losing £1m a day, and “must change faster in response to changing customer demands”.
It accused the CWU’s strikes of “weakening the financial position of the company and threatening the job security of our postmen and women”.
“We call on the CWU leaders to cancel their planned strike action and accept our invitation to enter talks through ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) without further delay,” they said.
Since the first strike date, Royal Mail has announced it may cut up to 6,000 jobs, something Mr McPherson described as “nothing more than a cynical attempt by Royal Mail to frighten and intimidate hardworking postmen and postwomen into not taking any further strike action”.
On the proposed cuts, Simon Thompson, chief executive at Royal Mail, said the company will “do all we can to avoid compulsory redundancies and support everyone affected”.
He added: “We have announced today (October 14) losses of £219 million in the first half of the year.
“Each strike day weakens our financial situation. The CWU’s decision to choose damaging strike action over resolution regrettably increases the risk of further headcount reductions.
“We call on the CWU leaders to immediately call off their planned strike action and accept our invitation to enter talks through ACAS to find an urgent resolution to our change and pay dispute.”
Royal Mail said it could not confirm if any job cuts would affect Romford workers.
Mr McPherson said further strike action is planned for October 20.
