Posties threaten to strike over Sunday working

POSTAL workers are threatening to go on strike after Royal Mail tried to force them to work on Sundays.

The 500-year-old company wants to ramp up weekend deliveries to compete with rivals such as Amazon and DPD.

But it now faces a backlash from bosses at the Communication Workers Union (CWU), who filed an emergency motion at their annual conference last week warning that unless pay demands are met there could be a walkout of more than 115,000 staff as early as next month.

At the moment, posties can volunteer to deliver parcels on Sundays – typically online purchases from large retailers.

However, Royal Mail wants to modernise the service by expanding it to include deliveries for small businesses and shoppers.

In return the firm is offering a 2 per cent pay rise backdated to April 1, and a further 1.5 per cent from the date the changes are implemented. Staff can also earn a new ‘above-and-beyond’ bonus, worth up to 2 per cent, if they hit productivity targets.

However, the CWU wants a ‘nostrings’ deal in line with inflation – which has hit 7 per cent.

Deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger said: ‘We know what our members have done through the pandemic. They deserve a pay rise that rewards them for what they’ve done but also protects them from the cost of living crisis. We are giving them one week and if we’re not in sight of a no-strings pay award we’ll instigate the four-week resolution process at national level.

‘They want to smash up this great public service and fill their pockets with gold. We have to fight with everything we’ve got.’ Royal Mail chief executive Simon Thompson will hold talks with the CWU this week in a bid to avoid industrial action.

The cost of living crisis, with soaring prices for energy, food and fuel, is expected to cut online consumer spending, which could hit parcel volumes.

Royal Mail is also facing rising costs, such as fuel for its huge fleet of vehicles, with bosses considering sending more post between its sites by rail.

It is required by law to deliver letters from Monday to Saturday, and parcels from Monday to Friday, to every UK address at a uniform price. Royal Mail said: ‘We want to agree a deal to recognise the great work of our people while ensuring Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-changing industry.’

Royal Mail piloted Sunday deliveries in 2014 but decided against introducing the service permanently. It then started Sunday deliveries again in March 2021 on a voluntary basis.

It began a review of its operations in February following a carcrash Christmas that saw delayed deliveries across the UK with some Christmas cards not arriving until mid-January.

Post Office workers are to stage a one-day strike on Tuesday in a separate CWU dispute over pay.

‘They want to fill their pockets with gold’