Royal Mail post workers have announced the date for their next two-day strike following a dispute over pay and conditions.
Posties already planned to go on national strike tomorrow and Friday September 9 with 115,000 of Members of the Communication Workers Union set to walk out in protest - following on from last month's strikes.
Members of the CWU – which represents Royal Mail Group workers - confirmed they have served notice on the company for strike action on Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1.
This week’s strike dates follow the union’s recent ballot for strike action over pay, which saw members vote by 97.6 per cent on a 77 per cent turnout to take action.
The union is demanding that Royal Mail Group sit down to negotiate better pay which covers the current cost of living increases for its members.
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “Postal workers won’t just meekly accept their standards of living being crushed so that a tiny few can carry on shoving millions and millions into their pockets.
“Our members are united in their determination to get the pay deal they deserve by rights.
“Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758 million in profit. Shareholders are pocketing in excess of £400 million. Bosses are dishing out millions of pounds worth of shares. Why then are our people using foodbanks?
“The current conduct of Royal Mail Group summarises everything wrong with British business, which is in a profound moral crisis.
“The CEOs should pack in their silence – they should announce their resignations and leave a national institution in safer hands.
“They have lost the dressing room, and unless efforts are made to get real on discussing a real pay rise for postal workers, serious disruption will continue.”
And the CWU Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger believes Royal Mail have failed to realise how hard their posties worked during the pandemic.
He 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.
“Those managing Royal Mail Group are treating our members with contempt by imposing such a minimal amount.
“Royal Mail Group have failed to recognise the strength of feeling and have left us with no choice but to fight.
“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.”
