The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has announced its Royal Mail members will walk out over 19 days in the peak postal period covering Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the general run-up to Christmas, as they continue to dispute pay and terms.
The strike will consist of a mixture of single days and rolling action across Royal Mail Group’s network and will be taken by all workers on 13, 20, and 25 October, and 28 November.
Different teams and combinations of teams will strike on other dates, but that will have a knock-on effect on all deliveries on those dates, the CWU said.
The union described this industrial action as having a “dramatic impact”, and reflects the “level of anger” workers feel. Dave Ward, CWU general secretary, called on everyone to stand with their local postal worker.
Royal Mail had proposed a pay rise of up to 5.5% in May 2022 in relation to the courier adding an additional, seventh working day as it expanded its Sunday delivery services.
However, the CWU is demanding that Royal Mail Group make an adequate pay award that covers the current cost of living increases for members. Over 115,000 postal workers tool strike action on Friday 26 August, Wednesday 31 August, Thursday 08 September and Friday 09 September for a “dignified, proper pay rise”.
Royal Mail stressed that after five months of talks, including three dispute resolution procedures, no agreement has been reached with the CWU. The delivery giant pointed out that it has made a loss of £92 million in the first quarter, equivalent to approximately £1 million a day.
It recognised that it “needs to adapt much faster to adapt to changing customer demands in a highly competitive market”. But said the CWU had blocked any meaningful discussion on the change agenda the company has set out, and has not put forward any viable alternatives that will fund further pay increases.
