Royal Mail workers say no to pay offer

The CWU (Communication Workers Union) has rejected Royal Mail’s offer on pay rises for this year.

Royal Mail have flatly refused any wage increase and instead have offered one-off cash sums between GBP 250 and GBP 550 – with conditions attached regarding efficiency savings.

The CWU say the offer is totally unacceptable as it amounts to pay cuts and major change. The Union says it is willing to continue negotiations but is moving to ballot members on industrial action.

Royal Mail have already started a process of changing working hours and converting expired full time posts to part time. Workers are said to be furious at the proposals put to the CWU and it seems likely that unless Royal Mail offer something more acceptable, widespread industrial action could follow.

A recent poll showed that postal workers were resolute in their determination to bring their pay up to the national average and improve working conditions.