Royal Mail staff could be among next group of workers to strike for higher pay, after their trade union moved to ballot them over a possible walkout.
More than 115,000 postal workers will have the chance to vote in the coming weeks on whether to take industrial action, after the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) informed Royal Mail that it would ballot staff.
Ballot papers will be sent out on 28 June, with the result announced on 19 July.
The CWU’s announcement came as the biggest rail strikes in three decades got under way on Tuesday, halting train travel across much of Great Britain and on London Underground, amid a bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
The CWU’s deputy general secretary, Terry Pullinger, accused Royal Mail’s management of deciding to impose a pay of increase of 2% on workers, at a time of soaring inflation.
“Their conduct, and particularly the imposition of such an aggressive pay offer, has eroded trust among loyal employees,” Pullinger said.
Prices are already rising at their fastest pace in 40 years, with inflation currently standing at 9% and forecast to climb still further to 11%, according to the Bank of England.
Delegates at the CWU’s annual conference voted in April that they would begin a national dispute with Royal Mail unless they received what they called a “no strings pay increase”.
The CWU’s general secretary, Dave Ward, said: “The state of affairs is unjust and unsustainable, and I have no doubt that our 115,000 members will stand strong against it and deliver a historic vote for action.”
If Royal Mail workers decide to go on strike, it could be the largest walkout in what is shaping up to be a summer of discontent as workers take issue over what they consider inadequate pay increases.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said the company believed there were no grounds for industrial action, and was committed to agreeing a deal with the union.
“We offered a deal worth up to 5.5% for CWU grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years, which was rejected by the CWU,” the spokesperson said.
“We have further talks on change with CWU this week. We hope this will ultimately lead to an agreement on the changes required to ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry”.
