POL raise pay offer to 5% – ‘better but not enough’ says CWU

Postal, Post Office (PO) August 18 2022

 

After three bouts of industrial action, and with another three days of strikes due next week, Post Office bosses put an extra 2 per cent on the table…  

“It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s still less than half the rate of inflation,” was the initial response of CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey to the news that the Post Office has increased its pay offer to employees.

From a position of setting out a 3 per cent pay rise, senior management have now upped their pay proposal to 5 per cent – a shift in the Post Office’s stance, which comes in the aftermath of three previous bouts of strike action, with more days having been announced for the end of this month.

“There’s no doubt this is a move on their part,” Andy continued. “It’s definitely new money on the table, but even with the extra 2 per cent, we are a long way behind the latest retail price index inflation rate of 12.3 per cent and therefore we cannot recommend this offer to our members.

“Let’s also not forget this offer relates solely to the financial year 2022/23 and still there has been no pay rise offered for the whole of 2021/22. Therefore, this current pay proposal of 5 per cent, plus £500 cash is poor when considering the whole two-year period.”

CWU and Post Office negotiators have been in talks facilitated by independent arbitration service ACAS and these discussions are scheduled to resume next week.

“We’re encouraged by this improved pay offer and it’s our hope that, in the talks next week, we can move further towards a fair and reasonable pay agreement – not only for 2022/23, but for 2021/22 as well,” Andy concluded.

If no agreement is reached, the next strike days will take place on Friday August 26th (All Post Office members), Saturday August 27th (Crowns) and Tuesday August 30th (Admin & Supply Chain)