National UK postal strike looms as union unrest grows
A new wave of postal strikes could bring national disruption to Britain as the row over jobs, pay and services escalates, reports The Daily Telegraph.
A new wave of postal strikes could bring national disruption to Britain as the row over jobs, pay and services escalates, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The article continues:
Up to 12,000 workers went on strike on Friday (17 July) in areas including London and parts of Scotland.
Now the Communication Workers Union says it plans to ballot 30,000 postal workers for industrial action across the country. About 450 depots outside the capital will be asked to vote in the coming weeks.
The union claims Royal Mail is cutting pay and jobs without agreement and warns the dispute could turn into a national strike.
Union members in London are already set to take three days of action next Saturday July 25, Monday July 27 and Tuesday 28.
Strikes so far have centred around the capital, Plymouth, Edinburgh, Darlington, Bristol and Stoke but now unrest is spreading to Eastern England, the South West and more areas of Scotland.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward, said the union recognised the Royal Mail was facing huge problems, but claimed it had a very different view of what modernisation was needed.
He accused Royal Mail of “endless cuts” to pay and jobs which he said was affecting services.
“These attacks on jobs and services must stop and Royal Mail must negotiate on the real issue,” said Ward.
“There are serious and growing problems in the postal sector which urgently need resolving.”
Royal Mail has condemned the CWU for striking over modernisation and change which it said had already been successfully implemented in offices around the UK.
It claims the union has instructed branches not to co-operate over the introduction of new equipment and changes in working practices.
But the CWU argues that jobs have been cut before the technology has been brought in, leaving workers over-stretched.
Martin Walsh, CWU London divisional representative, said: “Postal workers cannot continue with the levels of cuts on hours, jobs and wages by aggressive management which we are currently experiencing. Staff are nearing breaking point and services will be hit if modernisation isn’t brought forward.
“We do not have our heads in the sand when it comes to the challenges that Royal Mail face. We want automation, better industrial relations and faster progress on modernisation.
“But this cannot be driven by bullies who want to heap work on postal workers without supporting them through modernising the business or who are intent on driving down pay and conditions.”
