When will Post Office workers take part in strike action?

The Communication Workers Union, CWU, have announced that its members will be taking part in a day of strike action in July.

The industrial action will see Crown Post Offices across the country close as workers head to picket lines.

Here’s what we know so far about the planned strike action, including when it is expected to take place and which post offices in and around Manchester will be closed.

On 27 June, the CWU announced that its members would take part in industrial action on Monday, 11 July.

This is the only planned day that has been announced, and will be the third national strike by Post Office workers in 2022.

Why is strike action being taken?

The CWU has said members are going on strike in protest against “a massive real-terms pay cut.”

A union spokesperson said: “Workers facing a pay freeze for last year voted overwhelmingly to take strike action by 97.3 percent.

Additionally, a management pay offer of just 3 percent with effect from 1 April 2022 and a £500 lump sum fee has been rejected as being woefully inadequate for what amounts to two years.

This is in the context of the RPI inflation rate being 11.7 percent for May, and despite the fact that the Post Office made £35 million in profits during the pandemic (2020/21).

CWU Assistant Secretary Andy Furey said: “No worker wants to be in this situation, but Post Office bosses can’t be surprised that callous decisions are challenged by our members.

“This dispute is about dignity and respect for hard-working employees – essential public servants who, as key workers, provided unprecedented customer service during the pandemic.

“Our members feel betrayed and will not tolerate their living standards being smashed by people in charge of a public service that due to our members’ efforts made tens of millions of pounds in annual profits.

“There is more than enough money for a reasonable pay rise – implementing this pay cut is a management choice, not a necessity.

“Our message to the public is that this action and any inconvenience caused is 100 per cent the fault of the Post Office leadership.”

Andy Furey added that the union has a message for senior management at the Post Office.

He said: “To Post Office bosses, our message is: get real on pay, get round the bargaining table for meaningful negotiations and settle this dispute, or further action will be taken.”

In total, eight Crown post Offices in and around Greater Manchester are set to be closed for the day of strike action.