Royal Mail strike threat to Christmas

THE Labour Party uses a rival to Royal Mail despite the Communication Workers Union (CWU) being one of its biggest donors, it emerged last night as postmen announced a strike that could affect Christmas deliveries.

The CWU yesterday voted in favour of a walkout in the first major test of the Government’s new tougher trade union laws.

The ballot, sparked by Royal Mail’s decision to close its final-salary pension scheme, showed that 89.1 per cent of those who voted did so in favour of strike action. The turnout from the CWU’S 110,000 eligible members was 73.7 per cent.

Changes to trade union laws mean that 50 per cent of members have to attend a ballot and 40 per cent have to vote in favour of strike to make action legal. The CWU now has six months in which to use the ballot and it must notify Royal Mail of a walkout 14 days in advance.

The Daily Telegraph understands it will hold an initial two-day strike on Nov 24 and 25. The first day is Black Friday, widely acknowledged as the start of the Christmas shopping period, with retailers offering large discounts.

Any disruption in the festive period could hit Christmas deliveries. Last year, Royal Mail delivered 130million parcels over the festive season.

As the ballot results were announced, it emerged that the Labour Party uses the services of rival Whistl for its post, despite the CWU being the party’s fifth biggest donor. The CWU became the first of the big unions to back Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and has given around £2.8 million to the party since he took power.

Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, told the Telegraph: “This just shows, once again, what hypocrites Labour are.”

A Labour spokesman said: “The Labour Party endeavours to implement ethical procurement that upholds our core values and delivers best value for our members. This arrangement was entered into with full transparency and the knowledge of the relevant trade unions some years ago.”

The strike will be the first national stoppage since 2009 to hit Royal Mail. The sides are also in dispute over pay and delivery office closures.

At a press conference in Manchester, designed to clash with the Tory party conference, Dave Ward, CWU general secretary, warned Royal Mail: “Unless you shift your position significantly very, very quickly then industrial action is inevitable.” The CWU’S postal executive committee will meet tomorrow. The meeting will coincide with a strike on the London Underground.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Industrial action is damaging for our business. It undermines the trust of our customers.

“It makes it harder to pay for the great terms and conditions we provide for our employees.”