Royal Mail staff ‘to follow rail worker strike’ and could stage mass walkout over ‘unjust treatment’

More than 115,000 postal workers could stage a mass walk-out later this summer, after the Communication Workers Union (CWU) served Royal Mail with an industrial action balloting notice.

The union – which represents postal workers – served the notice today (June 21). Ballot papers will be dispatched on June 28, and the result will be known on July 19.

The decision came after delegates at the union’s April annual conference voted to declare the beginning of a national dispute in early May if a “straight, no strings pay increase” failed to materialise. Further tensions among the workforce grew after the union’s Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger was told that Royal Mail Group intended to imposing a two per cent pay rise by executive action.

READ MORE: Crucial information to know about rail strike disruption across Lancashire

This was despite previous agreements that no immediate executive action would be taken over pay. According to CWU, in an economic climate where inflation is set to soar to 11.1 per cent by the year’s end, this would mean a real-terms wage cut of approximately nine per cent for Royal Mail employees.

Should workers vote Yes to strike action, it could be the biggest industrial action taken by workers this summer. CWU Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Terry Pullinger said: “Throughout this entire dispute, Royal Mail management have conducted themselves insultingly and disrespectfully to key workers.

“Their conduct, and particularly the imposition of such an aggressive pay offer, has eroded trust among loyal employees. Nobody wants to be in this situation, but our members are heroes.

“We will defend ourselves if provoked – and we are convinced we will receive our biggest ever Yes vote for action.”

CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “Our members have been treated in a completely undignified manner by the people they make incredible profits for. Our members kept this country connected throughout our country’s greatest crisis since World War Two, and many paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“Now, they are being told there’s nothing for them, and they have to accept having less while the mega profits of bosses come first. The state of affairs is unjust and unsustainable, and I have no doubt that our 115,000 members will stand strong against it and deliver a historic vote for action.”

This week, rail workers have been staging industrial action throughout the UK. Action will also take place on Thursday and Saturday, with only around one in five trains running and disruption to services on days following the action. It includes Avanti West Coast, East Midlands, Northern, and TransPennine Express services.

Services on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, will also be hit. Workers are set to walk out in one of the biggest industrial actions seen for 30 years in a row over pay, jobs and conditions.