Post workers to strike in pay row
ROYAL Mail postal workers in Macclesfield are set to strike this week for the first time in 13 years in a dispute over pay.
Staff will walk out for 24 hours on Friday, with a further three dates scheduled on Wednesday, August 31, September 8, and September 9, as part of national action.
Union bosses say an overwhelming majority of 97 per cent of members voted for the action over a pay offer of 2 per cent.
For its part Royal Mail has accused the union of having ‘their heads in the sand’ over the need to modernise, and say a pay increase of up to 5.5 per cent has been offered.
The Macclesfield depot, on Jordangate, delivers to Macclesfield, Bollington, Prestbury, Adlington, Gawsworth, Bosley, Rushton, Chelford, Siddington and Over Alderley.
Dave Kennedy, branch secretary for the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said: “The size of this vote and the action we’ve announced delivers a stark message.
“Our members are not immune to the current inflation rates. They can see their pay being eroded at the same time the company are returning profits of £758m and splurging £400m on shareholder dividends.
“This is totally unsustainable and a gross betrayal. The company is also attempting to mislead the public by claiming they have offered 5.5 per cent.
“The Royal Mail position is disingenuous; our members know the true figure. Royal Mail have the opportunity to end this dispute.”
Talks between the two parties have been ongoing for several months.
Royal Mail says should the strike action go ahead, it will make a loss this financial year and says the deal it is offering is necessary to make ‘meaningful business change’.
The deal offered is 2 per cent with another 3.5pc available subject to agreement on a series of changes, including a new ‘above and beyond’ bonus.
Changing trends mean customers want more and bigger parcels delivered the next day and more environmentally-friendly options, says Royal Mail.
A spokesman said: “We are losing £1 million a day, and we need to change what we are doing to fix the situation and protect jobs.
“This change is also needed to support the pay package we have offered to the CWU. This is the biggest increase we have offered for many years and the CWU have rejected it.
“The CWU has put forward ideas for change that would cost over £1 billion while not delivering the changes needed to ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry.
“The CWU have their heads in the sand. Royal Mail can have a bright future, but we can’t achieve that by living in the past.”
But the union position is strikes will go ahead until a ‘fair and reasonable offer’ is made. One where only 2 per cent is unconditional is not seen as this.
As the strike action was confirmed the rate of inflation stood at around 10 per cent.