Royal Mail pay dispute update

Royal Mail managers who are part of the union Unite began a “work to rule” policy on 4 May in support of their pay dispute, and they are now set to start on overtime ban from 05:00 am next Wednesday (18 May). In a statement issued by the union today (12 May), Unite officer for Royal Mail managers Brian Scott said: “We had talks on Tuesday (10 May) with the Royal Mail management, but no progress was made – they appear to have dug their heels in over making an improved pay offer.”

Scott added: “The work to rule introduced on 4 May has been well supported by Unite members and I expect that the overtime ban will receive similar strong support.

“Many Royal Mail managers do not get paid overtime, but those that do are relied on to ensure that the operation, including the delivery of mail to households and companies, is achieved.

“The industrial action will have an increasingly detrimental impact on deliveries to 27 million homes across the UK.

“Unite is willing to sit down with the company to find a solution, but it needs to acknowledge and recognise the valuable contribution that Unite members make to the success of the business which the current pay offer does not reflect.

“Should the company continue to adopt this negative approach, we cannot rule out full strike action.”

The Unite statement said that the dispute does not include Parcelforce,  which is covered by a separate agreement.