Royal Mail threatens court injunction to stop Christmas postal strike

Chief Political Correspondent

ROYAL MAIL is to apply for an injunction to stop a strike that threatens deliveries in the lead-up to Christmas.

The Communication Workers Union voted in favour of a walkout for 48 hours from midday on Oct 19, over Royal Mail’s decision to close its final salary pension scheme. Further action is proposed for November.

Royal Mail said last night that unless the union cancels the strike by midday on Monday, it will seek an injunction in the High Court to force it to do so. Ministers fear a winter of discontent could be looming with industrial action threatened by public sector workers and rail staff at Southern, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and Greater Anglia.

Delegates at the recent TUC conference voted for a nationwide strike if the Government did not agree a five per cent pay rise in the public sector next year, something that would cost the exchequer at least £9billion a year.

Lawyers for the national postal service will argue that the CWU failed to allow enough time to work with an external mediator to prevent the strike.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We believe any strike action before the dispute resolution procedures have been followed would be unlawful.”

A CWU spokesman said: “We have been through 18 months of negotiation including mediation and now our members wish to exercise their legal right to take strike action.”