UK Christmas post strike threat flares
The threat of a pre-Christmas strike by postal workers flared since it was confirmed that unions leaders in London were pressing for two 24-hour walkouts in a long-running row over pay.
The London divisional committee of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is calling for strikes in the capital on December 19 and 22 in protest at lack of progress at talks aimed at resolving a number of issues, including pay and delivery patterns.
A series of unofficial stoppages, which started in London, crippled post deliveries last month but they ended after the union and the Royal Mail agreed to hold further talks.
A CWU official in London said today: “Postal workers in London are very angry at the lack of progress in the talks. There seems to be a lack of urgency.
“The Royal Mail will make a lot of money if there is an agreement to end second deliveries so we don’t accept they don’t have any money.”
The Royal Mail has made it clear it will not improve a £300 a year increase in London Weighting allowances, which was paid to the capital’s 28,500 postal workers in October.
The increase took the inner London allowance to £3,784 a year (an increase of 8.6%) and outer London allowances to £2,667 (12.6%).
The union is seeking a new allowance of £4,000, warning of huge recruitment problems and staff shortages because of the high cost of living in London.
A deadline of December 10 has been set for agreement between the two sides, including a move to single deliveries.
A union spokesman said the strike call would not be considered by the CWU executive until the talks with the Royal Mail were completed.
“We would not want to jeopardise the talks.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We have not been notified of any strike threat. We are focusing on talks, not threats. Even the suggestion of a strike is madness.”
