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The Royal Mail strikes have started today – as UK households are warned their postal deliveries and parcels face delays. Staff are walking out in a bitter row over pay.
The walkout comes ahead of further strike dates in late September and early October. Dave Ward, chief of The Communication Workers Union (CWU), addressed the strike on BBC Breakfast today.
Mr Ward discussed the reasons with presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt. Royal Mail, meanwhile, has issued some guidance on its website.
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It warns: “We’re really sorry for the disruption that this strike action is likely to cause to you. We want to reassure you we will do everything we can to minimise disruption and get our services back to normal as quickly as possible. Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but they cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce. We will be doing what we can to keep services running, but customers should expect significant disruption.”
When are the strikes?
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called on its members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to take strike action on 8, 9 and 30 September and 1 October 2022.
What happens on strike dates?
The Royal Mail will deliver as many Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels as possible. It added: “We will prioritise the delivery of COVID test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible.
“We will not be delivering letters (with the exception of Special Delivery).” It continued: “Post your items as early as possible in advance of the strike dates. Continue to post your items at Postboxes or Post Offices, however collections will be less frequent on days when strike action is taking place.”
Why are they striking?
The leader of the union representing striking Royal Mail said workers are in it for “the long haul”, as he attended a picket line. Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), joined workers outside a Royal Mail Delivery Centre in Camden, north London on Thursday.
He said: “Imposing a 2% pay increase on the workers who kept the company going during the pandemic, made the record profits that the company earned during the pandemic, whilst the bosses, you know, walked away with huge astronomical bonuses for apparently hitting all their financial targets, is just insulting.
“And I have to say I have never known workers in Royal Mail to be so angry towards the employer.” He also said staff were in the dispute for the “long haul”, adding they would be fighting to get “the pay deal they deserve”.
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