Royal Mail workers strike over pay and conditions Royal Mail
The move comes as Royal Mail said the union had rejected a pay rise offer “worth up to 5.5%” after three months of talks. Continued strike action will force our customers to make those choices sooner rather than later. Royal Mail mounted picket lines outside delivery and sorting offices again on Saturday in a continuing dispute over pay and conditions.
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The result of the ballot was announced by the union’s general secretary, Dave Ward, and its deputy general secretary, Terry Pullinger, at the York Barbican, where about 300 CWU members were gathered. Staff represented by https://forex-review.net/ CWU announced 19 days of action taking place throughout October and November 2022. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) walked out on a 48-hour strike on Friday, hitting post deliveries across the country.
- Royal Mail employees have gone on strike in Britain as the country braces for more industrial action ahead of what is being called a new “winter of discontent”.
- The union accuses the company of planning structural changes, which would in effect transform employees in secure, well-paid jobs into a “casualised, financially precarious workforce overnight”.
- As well as holding strikes this week, 115,000 Royal Mail workers from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will also take industrial action on 23 December and Christmas Eve.
- The rate at which prices are rising, known as inflation, is running at nearly 11%, which remains close to a 40-year high.
- And on Friday, rail workers, buses, baggage handlers, highway workers and driving examiners will walk out.
Royal Mail strikes: When are staff walking out and what’s affected?
The government’s emergency Cobra committee will hold its second meeting of the week later to discuss how to minimise the impact of the wave of industrial action. Around half of rail lines are shut again on Wednesday, with no services at all in most of Scotland and Wales. Some parcel companies claim the walkouts are having a knock-on effect, and forcing them to delay next-day deliveries as people and firms seek alternative ways to send their post.
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The union is pushing for a pay offer more in line with inflation, with its members voting overwhelmingly in favour of action. Royal Mail has also promised to “prioritise the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible” when strikes are taking place, alongside other Tracked24 parcels. “We are doing all we can to minimise any delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.”
How is post affected on Royal Mail strike dates?
Bosses have argued that the reforms would bring the UK in line with other European countries and help make Royal Mail’s loss-making letters business financially sustainable. In a statement last week, Mr Kretinsky’s EP Group, which made the approach, specifically highlighted Royal Mail’s “slow transformation” as a factor putting the business under “unsustainable pressure”. The pressure for the regulator to move quicker comes after Royal Mail last week rejected a shock takeover approach by Daniel Kretinsky, known as the “Czech sphinx”. The union had been told an additional 3.5% rise is available, subject to further talks and agreements – which would total a 5.5% rise.
Twenty-one dates are affected by Royal Mail strikes in September, October, November and December. The firm says it will try to keep services going to some extent but disruption and delays are likely to be significant. The CWU said the plans included delaying the arrival of post to the public by three hours, cuts in workers’ sick pay and inferior terms for new employees.
“After industrial action takes place, we’ll be increasing our network capacity and using additional resources to assist with getting services back to normal,” says Royal Mail. However, given the close proximity to the other strikes and a build-up of delayed mail, disruption is still very likely and people are advised to post items well in advance if possible. Royal Mail says it’s “doing what we can” to keep services running but customers are warned of “significant disruption”. The union accuses the company of planning structural changes, which would in effect transform employees in secure, well-paid jobs into a “casualised, financially precarious workforce overnight”. But the rail industry was hit by a drop-off in passenger numbers during the Covid pandemic, and it’s under pressure to save money.
The UK regulator, Ofcom, is considering options for the future of the service, including letting it cut the number of days it must deliver letters under its universal service obligations (USO). The Unite union says 2,400 managers will work to rule between 15 July and 19 July and will take part in strike action from 20 July to 22 July. Royal Mail has set out proposals to deliver second class post just three times a week in a move bosses said could save the company £300m a year. He added that the vote for strike action was “also a vote of no confidence in Royal Mail’s CEO and board, who should seriously consider their futures” at the company’s annual meeting on Wednesday.
EP Group has said it “recognises that Royal Mail is an important national asset”, adding that it would be “prepared to support this iconic business as it transforms and rebuilds into a modern postal operator”. “Despite nearly three months of talks, the CWU have not engaged in any meaningful discussion on the changes we need to make to adapt. “We offered a deal worth up to 5.5% for CWU https://forexbroker-listing.com/fxcm/ grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years, which the CWU rejected. We can only fund this offer by making the changes that will pay for it and ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry. About 115,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) were balloted and voted 96.7% in favour of strikes, on a turnout of 77%.
Redwheel called for regulators to water down the UK postal service’s legal obligations after Daniel Křetínský’s failed takeover attempt of its parent company International Distributions Services (IDS). Royal Mail managers across the UK are to go on strike this month in a dispute over pay and job cuts. The union has demanded that Royal Mail increases wages to an amount that “covers the current cost of living”. Ward said the union would give the company “another opportunity to come back to the negotiating table” but if a deal could not be reached, the CWU would notify Royal Mail of industrial action. Any items posted in postboxes or Post Offices the day before, during or following strike dates are likely to be subject to delays.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said the strikes will cover Black Friday and Cyber Monday. He described the plans as an “asset-stripping business plan” that will lead to the break-up of the company. General Secretary Dave Ward said workers faced the “biggest ever assault” on jobs, terms and conditions “in the history of Royal Mail”. Significant disruption is still beaxy exchange review likely on the dates below, but as not all staff are involved Royal Mail says it will only affect “parts of our operation”. Post Offices will stay open and offer their usual services but Royal Mail collections will be limited. Tracked 24 mail, including medical prescription items and COVID tests, will also be prioritised but people are again warned to expect delays.
