On August 31 115,000 Royal Mail staff took industrial action over disputes about their pay with more strike dates on the way.
2% is not enough
115,000 Royal Mail staff are being represented by the Communication Workers Union (CWU). The dispute began because the Royal Mail allegedly started to make changes to address the CWU’s Pathway to Change agreement without negotiation or consensus. You can read the agreement and more information about the dispute here.
One of the changes implemented is a 2% pay rise that Royal Mail staff have not agreed to. Instead, the CWU states that Royal Mail staff demand a pay rise that reflects the current cost of living.
Royal Mail state that they have since offered workers a 5.5% pay increase, with 2% paid in June and backdated to April 2022. 1.5% would be paid once reforms are implemented. What’s more, a further 2% would be made available as a productivity bonus. What the company have failed to mention which the CWU noted is that the addition 1.5% is “strictly conditional on postal workers agreeing changes which would rip up their terms and conditions”.
Instead of this, the CWU are asking for a pay rise that reflects the inflation rate which is currently at 9.4% and is expected to reach 13% later in the year.
When are the next strikes?
Strike action is due to take place on September 8 and 9. On these days delivery services will be disrupted however post offices will remain open. ITV News have called the strike on Wednesday “the biggest strike of the summer”.
This summer the UK has seen various strike action from various sectors. This largely reflects the inability from several corporations to introduce pay rises that reflect the rate of inflation. Over the summer we have mostly seen industrial action related to rail workers and transport staff. However, now NHS staff and teachers are also discussing strike action for this autumn.