CWU: Posties are in the fight of their lives against the Uberisation of Royal Mail
Postal strikes are to continue in the UK over Black Friday and two days after Cyber Monday.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “On Monday 31 October, Royal Mail proposed a new pay-for-change offer to The Communication Workers Union worth 9% over two years, despite making a loss of £219 million in the first half of the year. The CWU have been in talks with us at Acas and claim they are open to change, but they now need to show it.
“Instead, the CWU have announced four days of strike action which will damage our business further at our busiest time of year. The CWU is playing a dangerous game with its members’ jobs and the future of Royal Mail. We urge CWU to withdraw these strikes, 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.”
The CWU – the union for Royal Mail workers stated on their website that Royal Mail’s deal was derisory and offered ” a dramatic real-terms pay cut – and widespread changes over introducing Uber-style owner-drivers, mail centre closures and changes to Sunday working, has prompted widespread outrage from workers.”
CWU have announced that workers will be striking on Thursday 24th November and Friday 25th November – known as Black Friday, the biggest shopping day in the calendar.
Workers will also strike on Wednesday 30th November and Thursday 1st December – just two days after Cyber Monday, one of the busiest online shopping days.
Furthermore, the CWU’s postal executive will meet on Thursday (3rd November) to discuss new actions in the Christmas build-up.
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “Posties are in the fight of their lives against the Uberisation of Royal Mail and the destruction of their conditions.
“But 115,000 of our members will not just accept this war on their livelihoods and their industry.
“They will never give up the fight to protect this industry and to protect their hard-won working conditions.
“Simon Thompson has to either accept that or walk away – until he does one or the other, serious disruption will continue.”
CWU Acting Deputy General Secretary Andy Furey said: “Simon Thompson’s plan is evident – they want to destroy this company as we know it.
“They want outsourcing, casualisation, the decimation of working practices and pay.
“But so many of our members have given their entire working lives to building this company.
“They deserve a much better deal than what is on offer, and Simon Thompson is on another planet if he thinks we’ll stop fighting to achieve that.”
