Bosses at Royal Mail have been forced to issue an apology, after a manager jokingly announced a substantial pay rise for 'stressed-out' striking staff - only to be later told it was a 'horrible April Fools'.
The letter claims that the organisation had 'reached an agreement' with the Communication Worker's Union - after numerous bouts of industrial action over monetary compensation and working conditions.
And now, furious staff have kicked off about the 'unprofessional' joke, citing how their pay situation is 'not a laughing matter'.
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Kennedy News and Media report that the bogus poster outlined a pay rise of 11 per cent, backdated to April 2022 - set to be paid tomorrow (Tuesday). It also boasts about staff being able to use their own cars for deliveries.
Believed to have been erected at Royal Mail Gloucester North, it also reportedly encouraged staff to share the message on social media - as well as with those who are part of the CWU.
However, a fuming staff member shared the poster after realising it was an 'April Fools Day joke' and that she will not be receiving a pay rise. The CWU condemned the prank, branding it 'nasty' and 'tone deaf'. The letter is said to have been sent out just days after reports that the CWU were planning to announce new strikes - unable to reach an agreement with Royal Mail over worker pay.
Here is the reported joke poster in full -
Royal Mail and CWU reach agreement - Saturday April 1, 2023
We are pleased to announce that agreement has been reached.
Please take note of the following points:
- 11 per cent pay rise, backdated to April 2022, to be paid on 07/04/23.
- UK Government to pay £500 million per year to subsidise USO but no increase to the price of stamps or tax rises to pay for it.
- Reversal of all recent revisions and reintroduction of shorter deliveries.
- Reintroduction of job and finish.
- Removal of 'Scan In Scan Out'.
- Brand new fleet of diesel vans and bicycles to replace electric vans
- Staff now allowed to use private cars on delivery
- No limit on ghosting overtime
- Reintroduction of EPOD cards and removal of PDA devices
- Recruitment campaign launches on 03/04/23 to employ 10,000 new telegram boys
Royal Mail has since apologised for 'any upset caused' by the 'misjudged' joke, confirming that the poster has been removed and that the manager has made an apology. Their post read: "This was meant to be a joke at Gloucester North for April Fools' Day the boss in question has apologised."
However, workers were less than amused with the cruel move. One said: "It isn't a f**king joke, it's people's livelihoods. that manager should be f***ing sacked. I don't think it's a laughing matter. DO YOU?"
Another, added: "We ain't that lucky and there's only one fool and that's the manager for even thinking he's being funny. Should be ashamed of himself," while a third, said: "Very unprofessional given the amount of stress the situation is putting people under."
A fourth, put it: "I ain't laughing. They should be conducted. Horrible human being," while a fifth, agreed: "No managers should be making jokes at our expense with what they have been part of, April Fools' Day or not."
In response, a Royal Mail spokesman, said: "We apologise for any upset caused by this misjudged April Fools' joke at one of our delivery offices. The poster was removed and the local manager has apologised."
A Communication Workers Union spokesman, added: "For many Royal Mail employees, the workplace is now a completely toxic environment where nasty, tone-deaf 'jokes' such as these are considered culturally acceptable."
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