Royal Mail workers are set to take strike action this Friday (August 26).
Postal workers are embroiled in a dispute with the company over both pay and working conditions.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have also voted overwhelmingly to take further action, with 98.7 per cent voting in favour on a turnout of 72.2 per cent. This gives the union a mandate for more industrial action in addition to the walkouts already planned.
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While Royal Mail says it is offering its workers their biggest pay rise in years, the CWU points out that the pay deal on the table is well below the rate of inflation. So when are the postal strikes, and how are they likely to affect deliveries?
When are the postal strikes?
Royal Mail workers plan to strike on Friday (August 26), Wednesday August 31, Thursday September 8 and Friday September 9. These strikes concern pay, with Royal Mail workers set to walk out in an effort to secure a better wage offer from the company.
In addition, Royal Mail workers have now voted for further industrial action to follow the strikes already planned for August and September. Dates for the next round of industrial action have yet to be confirmed.
Why are Royal Mail workers going on strike?
Royal Mail workers are in dispute with the company over pay and working conditions. A pay offer of 5.5 per cent has been rejected by the CWU, as this is well below the current rate of inflation - which hit a 40-year high of 10.1 per cent in the year to July.
“Postal workers in this country are being pushed to the edge, but there can be no doubt that they will fight the planned erosion of their workplace rights with determination,” said CWU general secretary Dave Ward. “The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s management is simple: do right by your workers.”
How will the postal strike affect deliveries?
Royal Mail has stated that letters will not be delivered on days affected by the strike and that customers “should expect significant disruption”. It has also said, however, that it has “well-developed contingency plans” and that it will try “to keep services running”.
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