Royal Mail workers went back on strike today in protest at a below-inflation, 2.5% pay offer andrestructuring package.
Talks to avoid the action, between management at the state-owned postal operator and thestriking Communication Workers Union, broke down again on Wednesday.
“Disappointingly, Royal Mail simply concentrated on reiterating their previous offer that theworkforce has already overwhelmingly rejected,” the union said.
This is the second nationwide strike the union’s 130,000 Royal Mail workers have held,following another 24-hour walkout last week.
Post office counter staff also left work for a day on Monday in protest at the closure ofover 70 High Street branches in a franchise deal with WH smith.
Royal Mail management wants a green light from workers to modernise, while the union feelsthis will simply lead to privatisation and the loss of thousands of jobs in an increasinglycompetitive and liberalised UK market.
Small businesses are protesting against the strike saying delayed postal payments threaten toput them out of business, while the Government has also called for a swift end to a dispute thatmost observers see as lasting several months.
