Royal Mail workers have strongly voted in favour of industrial action following pay disputes.
According to the Communication Workers Union (CWU), an overwhelming majority of 97.6 per cent of members backed a strike. There was a 77 per cent turnout for the ballot.
As reported by The Mirror, dates for the strike have not yet been confirmed. The industrial action could potentially see around 115,000 Royal Mail employees walk out this summer.
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Another three-day strikes by approximately 2,400 Unite members that was scheduled to begin on Wednesday was cancelled after an agreement was reached on job, pay, and working conditions. The new strikes follows mounting warnings of a "summer of discontent", with unions preparing for clashes with the UK Government regarding wages and working conditions.
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward has stated that there will be a "small window" of opportunity for an agreement to be made to avoid industrial action before dates are confirmed. He said that post workers received major support from the UK public for their efforts throughout the pandemic, and would continue to receive support during the pay dispite.
He commented: "While bosses rake in £758m in profit and shareholders take £400m, workers are expected to take a serious real-terms pay cut. Postal workers won't accept their living standards being hammered by bosses who are typical of business leaders today - overpaid, under qualified, out of their depth.
"In our country right now, corporate failure gets rewarded over and over again. It's pathetic that CEOs take home lottery win salaries then offer real-terms pay cuts to people who made them their profit."
It follows the news that inflation reached 9.1 per cent in May. This is the highest it has been in 40 years, increasing pressure on household budgets.
A Royal Mail spokesperson commented: "We are disappointed that CWU members have voted in favour of industrial action. We offered a deal worth up to 5.5% for CWU grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years, which the CWU rejected.
"We can only fund this offer by making the changes that will pay for it and ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry. Despite nearly three months of talks, the CWU have not engaged in any meaningful discussion on the changes we need to make to adapt.
"Ensuring we can change, at pace, is the route to protecting well-paid, permanent, jobs long term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay and terms and conditions. That is in the interest of Royal Mail and all its employees."
They added: “In the event of industrial action, we have contingency plans to minimise customer disruption and will work to keep people, businesses and the country connected.”
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