Royal Mail postal workers in second industrial dispute

• 22 August 2022
• Transport / Logistics Services

As well as the four days of strike action planned for late August and early September, Royal Mail’s postal workers have voted overwhelmingly to strike in a separate action over working conditions.

According to the the Communications Workers Union (CWU), almost 99% of members voted for further strike action on a 72% turnout.

“The ongoing attempts of Royal Mail Group to whittle away people’s hard-won working conditions will be met with fierce opposition,” said Terry Pullinger, the deputy general secretary (postal) of the CWU. “In these times, working people need more security on the job, not less, and we won’t be backing down until we secure an acceptable solution for our members.”

In another industrial dispute, postal workers in the CWU have already agreed to walk out over pay on the 26th August, 31st August, and the 8th and 9th of September.

Around 83,000 members of the 115,000 postal workers in the CWU voted for strike action with a 98.7% vote in favour of strike action.

Royal Mail has countered that it has offered a 5.5% pay rise for CWU members – the highest it has offered in years. “Instead of engaging meaningfully on change that will secure future jobs, the CWU has decided to ballot against change,” said a spokesperson for Royal Mail.

“Royal Mail can have a bright future, but we can’t achieve that by living in the past. Customers want more parcels, bigger parcels, delivered the next day, including Sundays, and more environmentally friendly options. We wanted to meet this week but were disappointed the CWU couldn’t make it – we hope to meet next week.”