More UK strikes planned next week

Royal Mail has condemned the CWU’s decision to call two one day strikes next Friday and the following Monday (6 & 9 November). The company said the CWU’s announcement is “particularly disappointing given the TUC’s statement earlier today and the plans for talks to continue into next week”.

Mark Higson, managing director of Royal Mail Letters said: “The CWU claims to want a resolution to this dispute yet they know that more strike action will distract from the important discussions that need to take place and to which we at Royal Mail are committed. Royal Mail will of course continue to honour Brendan Barber’s request today not to discuss those talks.

“The CWU’s irresponsible behaviour underlines just how muddled and confused the thinking of the union is – and how little it really cares about customers or the future of the UK postal service.

“Thanks to the efforts of all our people who continue to work, to the dedication of managers and to the help of up to 30,000 fully vetted temporary workers engaged by Royal Mail, we will be able to limit the effect of the current strikes and expect to get any delayed mail to our customers by early next week, well ahead of the CWU’s next planned action.”