Post Office workers are set to strike again this week as their pay dispute continues to drag on. Monday (July 11) saw the larger branches of high street Post Offices hit by industrial action as members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) staged a walkout, and union chiefs are warning of delays to collections and deliveries when supply chain and administrative workers strike on Thursday.
The CWU said the decision will affect sub-post offices, with the workers who join the picket line occupying “vital roles”. It has predicted that the action will hit collections and deliveries.
Among the members striking are workers who deliver cash, valuables and essential supplies to Britain’s 11,500 sub-post offices, according to the CWU. Others include those who process finances and work in administration. Unions are threatening more action if the Post Office does not negotiate further over a pay rise for workers.
CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: “The blame for this disruption lies entirely with the senior Post Office leadership, who have repeatedly failed – and wilfully refused – to set out a sensible and fair pay agreement. Our message to the employer today is don’t waste our members’ time by misleading statements.
"Stop the spin and get serious about pay. Until you do this, the strikes will continue.”
At least 97% of CWU members who voted in the ballot were in favour of a walkout. The CWU said it opposed Post Office management’s offer of a 3% rise for the 2022-23 financial year. The proposed deal came with the offer of a one-off lump sum payment of £500, with staff having had no pay increase for the 2021-22 financial year. With inflation currently at record levels of more than 9%, union negotiators said the offer on the table amounts to a real-terms pay cut.
A Post Office spokesman said: “Strike action taking place on Thursday July 14 is within our supply chain network and will not impact any of our 11,500 branches from opening as they would normally.”
