Royal Mail staff walkout threat could bring chaos to Christmas post

More than 100,000 Royal Mail workers are to be balloted for festive strikes potentially causing chaos over the Christmas period.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will vote from September 24, with the result expected in the first week of October.

Staff are accusing the Royal Mail of not honouring a deal that promised pay rises, a reduction to working hours and new pension proposals.

The union said in a statement: “In setting this timetable we clearly believe that the business, in spite of their own media campaign, are not working within the spirit and intent of our national agreements and are following their own agenda that will have long-term detrimental effects on our members.”

Deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger warned that members should get ready for the “fight of your lives.

The agreement was one of the final acts of former chief executive Moya Greene, and covered pay rises, new pension proposals and moves to reduce working hours from 39 to 35 a week by 2022, subject to productivity improvements.

Unofficial walkouts are now running at more than one a week, including in small, rural offices not noted for militancy, said a CWU source.

Shane O’Riordain, from Royal Mail, said: “We have not received formal notification of a ballot from CWU. We are disappointed that they have set out a ballot timetable while discussions are ongoing.

“We are committed to open and constructive engagement with the CWU. We all want a successful and sustainable company that provides good quality jobs, fairness in workloads, and continues delivering the Universal Service.”

The company insisted it was honouring the 2018 agreement, awarding two pay increases of five per cent and two per cent and taking steps towards a shorter working week.

The CWU said that while it had spelt out the timetable for the ballot, it still provided a period of weeks  to try to secure a final settlement.