Biggest Potential Summer Strike On Cards Over Posties Treatment

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
21/06/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BIGGEST POTENTIAL STRIKE OF SUMMER ON CARDS AS POSTAL WORKERS SEND NOTICE OVER “UNJUST AND UNSUSTAINABLE” TREATMENT

A strike of over 115,000 workers moves closer to becoming reality, as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) serve Royal Mail with an industrial action balloting notice.

The union – which represents postal workers – served the notice today (21st June).

Ballot papers will be dispatched on Tuesday 28th June, and the result will be known on 19th July.

The decision came after delegates at the union’s April annual conference voted to declare the beginning of a national dispute in early May if a “straight, no strings pay increase” failed to materialise.

Further tensions among the workforce grew after the union’s Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger was told with little warning senior Royal Mail managers last week that Royal Mail Group intended to imposing a 2% pay rise by executive action.

This was despite previous agreements that no immediate executive action would be taken over pay.

In an economic climate where inflation is set to soar to 11.1% by the year’s end, this would mean a real-terms wage cut of approximately 9% for Royal Mail employees.

Should workers vote Yes to strike action, it could be the biggest industrial action taken by workers this summer.

CWU Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Terry Pullinger said: “Throughout this entire dispute, Royal Mail management have conducted themselves insultingly and disrespectfully to key workers.

“Their conduct, and particularly the imposition of such an aggressive pay offer, has eroded trust among loyal employees.

“Nobody wants to be in this situation, but our members are heroes.

“We will defend ourselves if provoked – and we are convinced we will receive our biggest ever Yes vote for action.”

CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “Our members have been treated in a completely undignified manner by the people they make incredible profits for.

“Our members kept this country connected throughout our country’s greatest crisis since World War Two, and many paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“Now, they are being told there’s nothing for them, and they have to accept having less while the mega profits of bosses come first.

“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.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact CWU Press Officer Marcus Barnett at 07812590450 or mbarnett@cwu.org.