Pay row sees postal staff out on strike
The summer of strikes hit fever pitch last week as, following previous walkouts by railway workers and solicitors, postal and communications workers were next to take action.
Across the country, 115,000 Royal Mail workers, including postal workers in Bath, walked out on strike last Wednesday.
The Communication Workers’ Union members say they are protesting against five issues:
A non-negotiable pay rise of two per cent has been imposed, when inflation, even by the lower “consumer price index”, is over 10 per cent;
A threat to “impose” later starts of up to two hours;
A threat to impose annualised hours, which they call “an unnecessary, unwanted and aggressive form of total workforce flexibility”.
Compulsory Sunday working, to compete with non-union parcel services. Strikers consider this a “race to the bottom”.
Cuts in unsocial hours allowances, and consequent cuts to pensions.
It was the second time in two weeks members had stopped work in their ongoing dispute over pay.
More strikes are due over the coming weeks, and union members have been balloted on further strike action linked to their terms and conditions.
According to Dave Chapple, the Trades Union Councils’ representative on the South West Region TUC, they were in good humour and good spirits.
“They face the fight of their lives,” he said. “Chief executive officer Simon Thompson, pressured by shareholders and already the richer by £400 million in 2022, is seeking to beat down the workforce, and, in so doing, destroy the service.
“I would argue that in supporting these Royal Mail trade union members, the public is also ensuring that what is still one of the world’s best postal services remains intact.”
In a statement, the company said that the union’s actions were “self-centred”.
“We are losing £1m a day and the CWU’S strike action is making our situation worse,” said a spokesperson.
“We want to protect well-paid, permanent jobs long-term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay, terms and conditions.”