Royal Mail workers and university staff are striking today over pay and conditions in their workplaces.
Postal workers who are members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) walked out again today, Wednesday, November 30 in an increasingly bitter dispute. Royal Mail workers were picketing outside the Liverpool North Delivery Office on Half Crown Street near Sandhills Station.
The long-running dispute revolves around pay, jobs and conditions. Royal Mail said it had made its "best and final offer" and accused the union of "holding Christmas to ransom". But the CWU said the offer would "spell the end of Royal Mail as we know it".
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The CWU said Royal Mail's plans to change the way the postal system worked, would turn it into "a gig economy-style parcel courier, reliant on casual labour". Further strike action is planned for Thursday, December 1, Friday, December 9 and Sunday, December 11.
A statement from Royal Mail regarding the strikes said: "Following several months of talks between Royal Mail and Communication Workers Union, including ACAS facilitation, Royal Mail has shared a best and final offer for pay and change.
"The revised offer includes extensive improvements that have been made during the negotiations with the CWU, including an enhanced pay deal of 9% over 18 months and a number of other concessions to terms and agreements. The offer is subject to agreeing a programme of change with the CWU.
"We’re urging CWU leadership to accept the change and pay offer, call off future damaging strike action, for the good of our customers and our people. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU's continued strike action will cause.
"We are doing all we can to minimise delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected."
Elsewhere in the city university staff, who are members of the University and College Union (UCU), were also striking today. Staff were picketing on Tithebarn Street in front of the SuperLambanana.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady called it "the biggest strike action in the history of higher education", with the union estimating that 2.5 million students could be affected .The UCU is demanding a pay rise of inflation (RPI) +2%, or 12%, whichever is higher, as well as an end to zero and temporary contracts and action to tackle "excessive workloads".
On its website, University Liverpool told students: "The University of Liverpool is among 150 universities across the country that will experience national industrial action by members of the University & College Union (UCU). Three days of strike action are taking place over this week and next, on Thursday , November 24, Friday, November 25 and Wednesday, November 30.
"Please be assured that the University will remain open throughout the industrial action and the vast majority of teaching and learning will proceed as usual. You should assume that your lectures, seminars and classes will take place unless notified otherwise."
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