Royal Mail workers have walked out on strike and members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are planning seven more strikes in December, including Christmas Eve. The union said its members will be in London on December 9 for the “biggest strike demonstration this country has ever seen”.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “Royal Mail bosses are risking a Christmas meltdown because of their stubborn refusal to treat their employees with respect. Postal workers want to get on with serving the communities they belong to, delivering Christmas gifts and tackling the backlog from recent weeks.
“But they know their value and they will not meekly accept the casualisation of their jobs, the destruction of their conditions and the impoverishment of their families.
“This can be resolved if Royal Mail begin treating their workers with respect and meet with the union to resolve this dispute.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “The CWU is striking at our busiest time, holding Christmas to ransom for our customers, businesses and families across the country. We apologise to our customers and strongly urge them to post early for Christmas.
“We are proud to have the best pay and conditions in our industry. In an industry dominated by the ‘gig economy’, insecure work and low pay, our model sets us apart and we want to preserve it.
“Despite losing more than £1 million a day, we have made a best and final pay offer worth up to 9%. Strike action has already cost our people £1,000 each and is putting more jobs at risk.
“The money allocated to the pay deal should be going to our people, but it risks being eaten away by the costs of further strike action.
“We once again urge the CWU to call off strike action. We remain available to meet to discuss our best and final offer.”
Royal Mail workers are to stage six fresh strikes next month, including on Christmas Eve, in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said its members will walk out on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24.
This is in addition to strikes already notified for November 24, 25 and 30, and December 1.
