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ROYAL Mail will face an ‘exodus’ of postal workers if it does not back down in a dispute over pay and working conditions, a Barrow union representative has said.
Scores of postal workers in Barrow took part in a strike as part of a dispute between the Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail.
Posties took to the picket line outside the Royal Mail office in Abbey Road today in the third day of strike action.
The strike is due to continue tomorrow.
A CWU representative called a pay offer made by Royal Mail ‘insulting’ and warned that an upcoming change to working patterns would lead to workers leaving.
“During Covid we kept the country connected,” he said.
“There’s going to be an exodus, but I don’t think Royal Mail will be bothered.
“We’ve got a cost of living crisis.
“We’ve got gas and electricity bills going through the roof.
“We’ve got people in full-time employment going to foodbanks.”
Between 80 and 90 workers in Barrow walked out.
Further strikes are planned for September 30 and October 1.
The union representative said if Royal Mail made a ‘reasonable’ pay offer there could be a ‘period of calm’.
He said the public had been supportive of the industrial action and ‘understanding’ of the reasons behind it
Several motorists beeped their care horns when passing the picket line.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We apologise for the impact the CWU’s industrial action is having on our customers. We are doing all we can to minimise any delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.
“Rather than engage on the need for change, the CWU restated their demands to retain the current outdated working practices, which includes working fewer hours for more pay.”
But CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758 million in profit and shareholders pocketing in excess of £400 million, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company.”
