Update on further strike action announced by the Communication Workers Union

Commenting on the CWU’s announcement, a Royal Mail spokesman said:
“Royal Mail and the CWU have met on a number of occasions under the auspices of Acas and at the request of Acas are meeting again this afternoon and evening, so it is hard to understand why the CWU is calling for further talks when our teams are actively engaged in talks.

“Royal Mail also deplores the move by the union, in spite of these talks, to attempt to cause further disruption to customers’ mail. As the CWU is responsible for calling the strikes, they are clearly free to stop this damaging action at any time. Royal Mail urges them to do so, in the interests of our customers, our people, and the future of the business.

“Royal Mail has been talking to the union since March about the need to comply with new EU legislation, which restricts the speed of 7.5 tones vehicles to 56 mph, to make changes to cope with the later arrival of mail into many delivery offices. The time of last deliveries will not change. As we have discussed with the union, it is better to make this change in the summer when volumes are lighter, and we will advise all our people when we believe it is most practical to introduce the change needed to comply with the law.

“Royal Mail will again do all it can to mitigate the impact of any industrial action, including using non-operational managers to help keep the mail moving.

“We now ask the CWU to engage with the company on using the GBP 1.2 billion loan which the shareholder – the Government – has made available to invest in modern automated equipment to achieve world-class productivity.”

Royal Mail is already losing business because its costs and therefore its prices are too high against rivals who have more efficient operations and, as a result, lower prices. It means business customers, who post 90% pct of the mail, are choosing to take business elsewhere.