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ROYAL Mail workers picketed outside the delivery office in St Helens today as the latest 48-hour strike began in the long-running industrial dispute.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are taking part in the dispute with Royal Mail over pay and working conditions.
When are strikes being held?
A two-day strike is being held today, Wednesday, November 30 and tomorrow, Thursday, December 1.
Meanwhile, further action is planned for December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24 in the run-up to Christmas, a traditionally busy time for deliveries.
Postal workers from the union voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes in the summer, and first took action took place on August 26.
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Last week, a 48-hour strike took place on Thursday, November 24, and Friday 25 affecting the pre-Christmas shopping discount day ‘Black Friday’.
Pay offer ‘below inflation’
The Royal Mail says it has offered a pay deal which it says is worth up to nine per cent over 18 months. It has blamed recent industrial action for creating financial losses and says it is seeking cost efficiencies through reduction of 5,000 full-time equivalent roles by March 2023 and around 10,000 by August.
The CWU says the offer is below the 11.1 per cent inflation rate and wants a higher pay offer.
It has also opposed proposed changes to working conditions, including ending a number of allowances and the introduction of compulsory Sunday working.
Around 115,000 CWU workers are taking part in the industrial action.
‘We want to protect the service’
“There are two reasons we are on strike, one is pay and the other is the terms and conditions. We don’t agree to 10,000 job losses across the industry,” said Sarah Rogers, CWU representative and women’s officer, who was on the picket line outside the office on Liverpool Road in St Helens this morning.
Strikers also voiced opposition was also raised over the Royal Mail’s use of agency workers. They added that new staff are receiving lower pay, creating a “two-tier workforce”.
The Royal Mail’s offering of bonuses to management to implement the job cuts was also criticised as well as moves to “get rid of am starts” and the “prioritising of parcels to mail”.
They added that they want to “protect the six says a week” mail service, which the Royal Mail wants to reduce.
“This is all linked to the terms that they are trying to impose on us which we don’t agree to,” added Ms Rogers, who has worked as a postwoman at the St Helens office for 13 years.
“In terms of pay, they’re still trying to come to some kind of agreement, the offer doesn’t cover the cost of living.”
She added: “We have had lots of support from people, cars passing by beeping and shouting ‘good on you’, it’s quite positive.
“We are trying to protect the service that Royal Mail is trying to get rid of, and care about the job and the 500-year-old service that they’re providing.”
What the Royal Mail has said
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We are proud to have the best pay and conditions in our industry. In an industry dominated by the ‘gig economy’, insecure work and low pay, our model sets us apart and we want to preserve it.
“Despite losing more than £1million a day, we have made a best and final pay offer worth up to nine per cent. Strike action has already cost our people £1,000 each and is putting more jobs at risk.
“The money allocated to the pay deal should be going to our people, but it risks being eaten away by the costs of further strike action.
“We once again urge the CWU to call off strike action. We remain available to meet to discuss our best and final offer.”
