Postal workers will walk out to call for a 'dignified, proper pay rise' in what is being described as the summer's biggest strike so far. As many as 115,000 Royal Mail Group workers who are members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are expected to take part in industrial action tomorrow (August 26).
It is set to be followed by further strike action next Wednesday (August 31), then the following Thursday and Friday (September 8 and 9). The walkout follows the union’s recent ballot for strike action over pay, which saw members vote by 97.6% on a 77% turnout to take action.
The CWU says management at Royal Mail Group 'imposed' a 2% pay rise on its workers - who were classed as key workers in the coronavirus pandemic - which it insists is not enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. Inflation is expected to exceed 18% by January, with energy bills due to soar twice by that point.
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Dave Ward, CWU general secretary, said: "On Friday, we will see a tremendous outpouring of workers’ unity in villages, towns and cities across the country. 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 in excess of £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. Royal Mail’s leadership have lost the dressing room - and unless they make efforts to get real on discussing a pay rise that postal workers deserve, serious disruption will continue."
Royal Mail says it has 'well-developed contingency plans' to minimise disruption, and insists it is focused on getting mail delivery back to normal as quickly as possible after strike action. On days when strike action is taking place, the company says it will deliver as many Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels as possible, prioritising the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions.
The union is also in dispute with Royal Mail over efficiencies. A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "We are losing £1 million a day, and we need to change what we are doing to fix the situation and protect jobs.
“This change is also needed to support the pay package we have offered to CWU grade colleagues, worth up to 5.5%. This is the biggest increase we have offered for many years and the CWU have rejected it. This would add around £230 million to Royal Mail’s annual people costs when the business is already loss-making.”
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