Workers to stage one-day walkout in July 2022 over pay dispute

Post Office workers from more than 100 branches will go on strike next month in a dispute over pay.

Crown Post Offices, which account for the 114 branches directly managed by Post Office Limited, will be affected by the walkout.

Members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) working at Crown Post Offices, the larger branches which are often located on high streets, will stage strike action on 11 July.

It will be the third national strike by Post Office workers this year.

The walkout of 1,500 workers will mean “considerable delays” for consumers, CWU said.

A number of services including parcel collection will also be unavailable at affected branches.

The union said its members had rejected a pay offer it said was worth 3 per cent with effect from April and a £500 lump sum, which the union said was well below inflation.

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.”

A Post Office spokesperson told i: “We want to assure our customers that the vast majority of our 11,500 branches are unaffected by the CWU decision to strike on 11 July and will be open throughout the day.

“There are 114 branches, typically in city centres, that are directly managed by Post Office and on previous strike days over a third have opened as usual.

“We’re disappointed that the CWU have made the decision to strike but remain hopeful that we can reach a pay agreement soon.”

Crown Post Office branches located everywhere from Islington to Bangor will be affected by the strike action.

Customers affected by the closures can find their nearest alternative branches by checking the Post Office’s online branch finder.

Crown Post Office locations

• Antrim
• Bangor
• Belfast City
• Edinburgh City
• Glasgow
• Haddington
• Inverness
• Kirkwall
• Londonderry
• Newtownards
• Saltcoats
• Springburn Way
• Stornoway
• Wester Hailes
• Barnes Green
• Bransholme
• Bridlington
• Chester Le Street
• Crossgates
• Eccles
• Furness House
• Grimsby
• Hyde
• Kendal
• Manchester
• Morecambe
• Morley
• Poulton Le Fylde
• Prestwich
• Rotherham
• Salford City
• Sheffield City
• South Shields
• St Johns
• Sunderland City
• The Markets
• Birmingham
• Breck Road
• Caernarfon
• Didsbury Village
• Harlesden
• Kettering
• Kingsbury
• Leigh
• Leighton Buzzard
• Matlock
• Milton Keynes
• Northolt
• Old Swan
• Oswestry
• Oxford
• Redditch
• Southall
• St Peters Street
• Stamford
• Stockport
• Wealdstone
• Barnet
• Cambridge City
• Canning Town
• Cricklewood
• Dereham
• Golders Green
• Hampstead
• Harold Hill
• Kilburn
• Kingsland High Street
• Lower Edmonton
• Roman Road
• South Ockendon
• Stamford Hill
• Bideford
• Dunraven Place
• Gloucester
• Liskeard
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Mutley
• Nailsea
• Newquay
• Paignton
• Port Talbot
• Stroud
• Teignmouth
• Yate Sodbury
• Baker Street
• Bexhill On Sea
• Cosham
• Great Portland Street
• High Street (10)
• Kensington
• Knightsbridge
• Melville Road
• Paddington Quay
• Portsmouth
• Raynes Park
• Romsey
• Westbourne
• Windsor
• Worlds End
• Aldwych
• Brixton
• Broadway
• City of London
• Clapham Common
• East Dulwich
• Eccleston Street
• High Holborn
• Houndsditch
• Islington
• Kennington Park
• London Bridge
• Lupus Street
• Mount Pleasant
• Vauxhall Bridge Road