UK strike continues as more dates added

Postal workers in the UK are taking part in the second phase of a two-day national strike, as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced plans for a further three-day strike from 29 October.

The first UK national postal strike in two years has begun after talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) reached deadlock. The two-day strike started with drivers and mail centre sorting staff striking yesterday, with delivery staff walking this morning.

After several hours around the negotiating table with the CWU this week, Royal Mail management called the decision to pursue a strike “wholly unjustified”.

They maintained they had been willing to come to an agreement to avoid strike action, including sending Union bosses a “reasoned and sensible proposal” on Wednesday.

Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters, said: “Over the last day or two we have tried to persuade the CWU that there is a sensible way forward and that proposal was sent formally in a letter.

“But despite the fact that the CWU agreed to take that solution to their National Executive, the union has yet again failed to honour its commitment to call off strikes in return for a period of no change and has shown yet again that its intention is to inflict as much damage as it can on the postal service and on our customers and to oppose the modernisation which is essential if Royal Mail is to survive.”

In response, a CWU statement said: “Mark Higson is clearly out of touch with his own team. He needs to get round the table and get his hands dirty resolving this dispute.”

The union later announced plans for a further three-day strike that will begin on 29 October – paralysing the UK postal service even further.

Higson said: “It’s appalling but sadly not surprising that the CWU has called still more strikes in its determination to damage customers and ruin the UK postal service. Any pretence from the CWU that they care about customers or about the future of the postal service is now shown to be totally dishonest. The CWU leadership has failed to honour and deliver the agreement we both negotiated on Tuesday night that would have averted this week’s strikes, ensured no further strikes until the end of the year – and given both parties a period of calm for further talks and to give customers the service they deserve between now and Christmas.

“My door is open and my phone is on and I am urging them again today to meet me to sign that agreement, get the strikes stopped and give us some peace in which we can get on with delivering Christmas for our customers.”

How are you being affected by the strikes? Do you side with the Union or Royal Mail? Please comment below.