Union threat to act over UK Royal Mail cuts

Amicus, the union that represents more than 14,000 Royal Mail managers, has accused the postal group of planning to impose longer hours on remaining staff following 3,000 job cuts.

Royal Mail is shedding 3,000 non-operational management jobs as part of a three-year plan to reduce the group’s headcount by 30,000. About 2,400 staff have accepted voluntary redundancy but up to 600 staff might be laid off. Amicus said it would hold a strike ballot as soon as compulsory job losses are announced.

Peter Skyte, the union’s postal officer, said: “The company have said 3,000 managers are surplus to requirements. This is clearly not the case if it is necessary for the remaining staff to work longer hours for the business to function. Unless the Royal Mail rule out compulsory redundancies we are on a collision course.”

Royal Mail said it hoped to continue talking. “We want to deal with surplus jobs on a voluntary basis but compulsory redundancy cannot be ruled out.”