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More than 100,000 posties across the United Kingdom will strike for four days this summer over a long-running pay dispute with Royal Mail.
Postal workers that are members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said they felt forced into industrial action after fighting for a ‘dignified, proper pay rise’. The decision follows a recent ballot for strike action, which saw members vote by 97.6% on a 77% turnout to take action.
Royal Mail offered staff a 2% pay rise; something the CWU believed would lead to a “dramatic reduction” in workers’ living standards because of soaring inflation.
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CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, but postal workers are being pushed to the brink. There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.
“We can’t keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks. When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758 million in profit and shareholders pocketing £400 million, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company.
“Postal workers won’t meekly accept their living standards being hammered by greedy business leaders who are completely out of touch with modern Britain. They are sick of corporate failure getting rewarded again and again.
“The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s leadership is simple – there will be serious disruption until you get real on pay.”
But Royal Mail has warned the move will make the company “materially loss-making” in the current financial year. In a statement to the stock market on Wednesday, Royal Mail said the decision to strike is an “abdication of responsibility” for the long-term job security of CWU members.
“In more than three months of talks, CWU has failed to engage meaningfully on the business changes required,” it said. “The negative commercial impact of any strike action will only make pay rises less affordable and could put jobs at risk.
“The CWU has a responsibility to recognise the reality of the situation Royal Mail faces as a business, and to engage urgently on the changes required. Royal Mail remains ready to talk with the CWU to try and avert damaging industrial action and prevent significant inconvenience for customers. But any talks must be about both change and pay. Royal Mail has contingency plans in place and will be working hard to minimise disruption and restore normal service as soon as possible.”
The dates when workers are set to walk out, and therefore see massive disruption to post and parcel deliveries, are:
- Friday, August 26
- Wednesday, August 31
- Thursday, September 8
- Friday, September 9
Royal Mail said that, following the conclusion of negotiations with the CWU, it has given an unconditional 2% pay increase, backdated to April 1 2022. A further 3.5% increase is available, subject to agreeing on a series of changes, the company said.
Ricky McAulay, operations director at Royal Mail, said the CWU rejected the combined 5.5% increase, something Mr McAulay said was “the biggest increase we have offered for many years”.
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“In a business that is currently losing £1 million pounds a day, we can only fund this offer by agreeing the changes that will pay for it. Royal Mail can have a bright future, but we can’t achieve that by living in the past,” he said.
“By modernising we can offer more of what our customers want at a price they are willing to pay, all whilst protecting jobs on the best terms and conditions in our industry.”
The CWU said the 2% rise had been imposed without agreement and the extra money on offer is based on changes to terms and conditions or meeting targets. The union added that the pay increase was well below the soaring rate of inflation.
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