Royal Mail managers could strike over job cuts
Thousands of Royal Mail managers are set to vote next month on whether they should strike over plans to cut jobs. It will be the first time since 1979 that managers will be balloted on industrial action.
According to union Unite, Royal Mail intends to slash in the region of 1,500 management positions, in light of falling mail volumes and a drop in revenue.
Unite said the operator will make compulsory redundancies if there is not a sufficient number of volunteers willing to leave the company.
Up to 8,535 managers will vote, including staff from Royal Mail, Parcelforce and Post Office Ltd. These include people working at the Group’s head offices in London, including Old Street, Rathbone Place and Victoria Embankment.
Paul Reuter, national officer for Unite, said, “Managers are so concerned about their futures, that for the first time in over 30 years they will vote on industrial action. Unite will not allow managers to be forced out because of the poor decisions made at the very top of Royal Mail Group.
“If Royal Mail is allowed to push ahead with forced redundancies it will keep coming back for more, so Unite intends to stop Royal Mail in its tracks.
“Unite has an excellent track record of working with Royal Mail Group, no matter how frustrating, to address the challenges that it faces. There have already been 5000 job cuts over the last five years without any compulsory redundancies. Such a drastic step is not necessary now and Unite will oppose it.”
The ballot is due to start at the beginning of November.
Brian Scott, assistant national secretary for Unite said: “We have met with Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd on a number of occasions in an effort to address the issues that they are facing but we refuse to accept that compulsory redundancies are necessary. Members working across Royal Mail Group, including the Post Office, deserve better.
“The decision of the meeting of full time representatives to launch this campaign was not taken without careful consideration of the severity of the issue. However they were unanimous in their view that enough is enough and that the employer has gone too far this time.”
When approached by Post&Parcel, a Royal Mail spokesman said: “We continue talking with Unite and have stressed we will continue doing our utmost to manage any job losses by voluntary means and that we have increased our existing voluntary redundancy package.
“As they know, these reductions are essential as we continue adapting to our rapidly changing and declining market, where mail volumes have fallen by 13m letters a day in just five years.”
Earlier this month, the UK government confirmed that Royal Mail will be privatised. Business secretary Vince Cable stressed the need for ‘urgent’ private investment. The move will also see Post Office Ltd separated from Royal Mail Group.
