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Royal Mail customers have hit out at striking posties, claiming the 48-hour stoppage will ‘kill businesses’ and leave patients waiting for news on important scans and appointments.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) took to the picket lines today, hitting deliveries of post across the country, ahead of a further 19 days of strikes over the next two months over a worsening dispute over pay.
Talks between the CWU and Royal Mail were held on Thursday but there was no sign of any progress being made and the union is planning to step up industrial action in the coming weeks.
People have taken to social media to voice how the strikes are impacting them, with small businesses struggling due to the failed delivery of goods and anxious waits for NHS scan results.
The union said the walkout by around 115,000 of its members is the biggest strike of the year amid long-running disputes in other sectors.
Posties have taken to the picket lines as a 48-hour Royal Mail strike began ahead of a further 19 days of walkouts over the next two months in a worsening dispute over pay
Pictured: A postman pat toy sits at the strike picket outside Royal Mail Camden Delivery Office
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) walked out, hitting deliveries of post across the country
Talks between the two sides were held on Thursday but there was no sign of any progress being made and the union is planning to step up industrial action in the coming weeks
A further 19 days of strikes have been announced on different days throughout October and November in a major escalation of the dispute.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: ‘This is a significant announcement, but it is one which matches the level of anger our members feel at the way Royal Mail Group has treated them.
‘The chief executive of Royal Mail Group is treating postal workers as if they are stupid.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward (pictured) said: ‘This is a significant announcement, but it is one which matches the level of anger our members feel at the way Royal Mail Group has treated them
He added: ‘The chief executive of Royal Mail Group is treating postal workers as if they are stupid’
Pictured: CWU general secretary Dave Ward with strikers outside Royal Mail Camden Delivery Office
‘These are the same people that have kept the country connected and returned Royal Mail Group to record profit.
‘Postal workers across the UK now face the fight of their lives to save their jobs and the service they provide to every household and business in the UK.
‘We call on everyone to stand with their local postal worker.’
On social media, people hit out at the strikes for the negative impact they would have on small businesses and the delivery of important NHS letters.
One person wrote on Twitter: ‘I run a very small mailing house, business to customer. I have a collection from Royal Mail every weekday. In Nov, I have 13 collection days, with other parts of Royal Mail network severely impacting deliveries. Strikes will kill business & I no longer support the strikers.’
On social media, people hit out at the strikes for the negative impact they would have on small businesses and the delivery of important NHS letters
Another detailed how with mail backlogs there had been infrequent postal delivery even before strikes.
She wrote: ‘I’m in Swansea, a cancer survivor, and also waiting for scan results, with post being delivered every other day this month. Th backlogs must be huge!’ =
Someone else wrote about how they only had two days of contact lenses left and have just reordered some to find Royal Mail were on strike.
Another detailed how even before the strikes post had only been delivered twice a week to her area in Camberwell
Royal Mail bosses said the strikes are ‘reckless’ as the business is losing £1million a day and the strikes could lead to customers making ‘other choices’.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: ‘The CWU can be in no doubt of the impact its reckless pursuit of 19 days of industrial action has on our weakened financial position and the job security of its members.
‘Royal Mail is losing £1 million a day. We operate in a competitive market, and our customers have choices. Continued strike action will force our customers to make those choices sooner rather than later.
The union said the walkout by around 115,000 of its members is the biggest strike of the year amid long-running disputes in other sectors
Royal Mail bosses said the strikes are ‘reckless’ as the business is losing £1million a day and the strikes could lead to customers making ‘other choices’
A further 19 days of strikes have been announced on different days throughout October and November in a major escalation of the dispute
‘Our invitation to enter into talks through Acas remains open. Our people need the CWU leadership to recognise the reality of the situation Royal Mail faces as a business, and to engage urgently on the changes required to adapt to customer demands in a highly competitive market.
‘We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU’s continued strike action will cause.
‘We are doing all we can to minimise any delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.’
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