Royal Mail union barons pull back from fresh strikes

Union leaders have pulled back from announcing fresh Royal Mail strikes, but have stressed that talks aiming to resolve pay, jobs and conditions will not continue past the end of next week. 

It follows the breakdown in negotiations between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents around 115,000 postal workers, earlier this week.

Royal Mail previously said it was ‘deeply concerned’ that the talks had concluded without an agreement, adding that the service had increased its offer for workers to a 10 per cent pay rise over three years, with a lump sum of either £500 or £1,500.

While the CWU has not announced more strikes, it has declared a hard deadline for further discussions to conclude by. Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), told an online briefing for union members: ‘Discussions cannot go beyond next week.’

Mr Ward said further discussions will be held over the Easter weekend and early next week despite talks ending without agreement earlier this week. 

He said the union’s objective was to close the gap between the two sides and reach an agreement which would benefit workers and the company. 

He accused some senior Royal Mail managers of not wanting to reach a deal. 

Mr Ward said the union accepted that the company was in a serious financial position but talk of going into administration was ‘overstated’. 

For a company said to be facing administration it was ‘surprising’ that its share price was going up, he said. 

Mr Ward said the union’s leaders did not believe that more strikes were the right thing to do at the moment but there might come a time when more industrial action is called. 

Royal Mail workers staged a series of walkouts last year, including in the run-up to Christmas. 

The CWU stressed it had not walked away from negotiations and believed it has closed the gap on issues preventing a deal. 

Mr Ward said: ‘We believe there is a way to help this company move forward, make it successful again so you can share the benefits and we can alleviate the pressures on the workforce.’

A Royal Mail spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to reaching an agreement with CWU, telling MailOnline: ‘After 11 months of talks, including mediation by Sir Brendan Barber and Acas, we are deeply concerned that our talks with CWU have concluded without an agreement.

‘We made substantial efforts to reach an agreement, including making a number of further improvements to our offer. These improvements were all based on feedback from the CWU, and we were hopeful that the CWU would put a deal to its members.

‘We remain committed to reaching an agreement with the CWU. We have been clear throughout the dispute that not transforming our network and working practices is not an option in a business losing more than £1 million a day. In the best interests of the business, our customers, and the job security of our postmen and women, change cannot be delayed any further.’

Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary Dave Ward (centre) joins postal workers on the picket line at the Camden Town Delivery Office in London in November 2022

Royal Mail has been crippled by 18 days of strikes over the last year amid clashes over pay and conditions.

The company warns it risks going into administration, having lost £450mn in the last financial year and currently losing £1mn a day.

The company claims the 18 days of strikes have cost the company in excess of £100mn so far.

In February, a CWU ballot showed almost 96% of workers were prepared to strike again if needed.

Mr Ward said it was a ‘stunning’ result as workers campaigned against proposed cost-saving changes, including the slashing of 10,000 jobs across the company. 

MailOnline has contacted Royal Mail for comment.