By Tony O’Reilly-
Royal Mail workers will launch a fresh 48-hour strike today and another on September 30, in a dispute over pay, which threatens disruption to deliveries.
The workers originally announced strike action over four days in August and September. Over 115,000 postal workers are due to stage a series of strikes in the coming weeks in a dispute over pay, the Communication Workers Union has confirmed.
They are demanding a “dignified, proper pay rise”, which they say they are being denied.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) last week 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
Strikes will then continue on Thursday, September 8 and Friday 9.
The decision comes after a recent ballot for strike action, which saw members vote by 97.6% on a 77% turnout to take action.
Management had responded by imposing a 2% pay rise, the union has said.
The CWU believes this would lead to a “dramatic reduction” in workers’ living standards because of soaring inflation.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward added: “Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, but postal workers are being pushed to the brink.
“There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.
“We can’t keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks.
“When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758 million in profit and shareholders pocketing £400 million, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company.
“Postal workers won’t meekly accept their living standards being hammered by greedy business leaders who are completely out of touch with modern Britain.
“They are sick of corporate failure getting rewarded again and again”.
CWU deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger said: “Our members worked miracles during the pandemic and know full well what they are worth.
“They are fighting for a no strings, real-terms pay rise – something they are fully entitled to.
“Our members deserve a pay rise that rewards their fantastic achievements in keeping the country connected during the pandemic, but also helps them keep up during this current economic crisis.
“We won’t be backing down until we get just that.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson 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.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward with postal workers on the picket line during an earlier strike.Credit: James Manning/PA
Union leaders had been in talks with top bosses since Royal Mail management used a high court ruling in November last year to block national strikes.
However, in a message to union members on Friday, Pullinger said, “We will now re-ballot our members—this dispute is far from resolved.”
Workers in Royal Mail are fighting to save their jobs and working conditions from a major attack spearheaded by chief executive Rico Back. Recent talks between Rail Unions and top managements were fruitless and broke down, leading to bosses say they want to push ahead with changes that could worsen working conditions and in some places lead to job losses.
Ricky McAulay, one of Royal Mail’s top managers, said this is because of “the tough financial situation we’re in”.
Bosses have also threatened to push ahead with moves to transfer Parcelforce workers over to a new private company if the union ballots for strikes.
Pullinger said bosses had used the talks to try and push through their changes. “Everything they said going into these talks has proven to be nonsense,” he said.