Britain is set for its first national postal strike in 11 years on Friday, June 29, following thefailure of Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union (CWU) to reach a pay agreement. Both
Royal Mail and private competitors using the national postal operator for final delivery will beimpacted.Claiming that the British postal operator was not interested in negotiating, the CWUannounced that the one-day stoppage on June 29 would cover all workers in Royal Mail and PostOffice Limited, and that there would be further strike action during the following two weeks.
“The union remains committed to reaching an agreement and we have given Royal Mail a furtherweek to conclude a deal before any strike action becomes necessary,” said CWU Deputy GeneralSecretary Dave Ward. He claimed the union was not opposed to modernisation but added: “What RoyalMail is doing is not modernisation. The truth is they are intent on cutting services, cutting jobsand cutting pay.”
In response, Royal Mail said the planned strike action would only add to the very difficultcompetitive challenges the company and its people are already facing. The company had offered a2.5% pay rise and various additional payments.
Royal Mail Chief Executive Adam Crozier said: “Royal Mail will do all it can to mitigate theimpact of strike action but we are very disappointed for our customers at the disruption they arenow facing. We remain very willing to sit down with the CWU to explain again the absolute need forRoyal Mail to modernise and to underline how damaging a strike would be for postmen and women, andour customers.”
Royal Mail is losing business in a declining overall market to competitors who are 40% moreefficient due to modern technology and working processes but who also pay staff 25% less than RoyalMail does, the company pointed out.
Crozier added: “We are losing business because we have failed to change and modernise – andas a result our costs and therefore our prices are higher than those that rivals are charging inthe intensely competitive business mail, which makes up 90% of all postings. If we don’t modernisethen the future for everyone in the company will start to look bleak.”
