More than 115,000 Royal Mail staff are already set to strike at the end of this month, and have just voted comprehensively to continue their industrial action. More than 98% of staff represented by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) voted in favour of industrial action that is likely to involve 115,000 workers this summer.
“We can’t keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks,” CWU general secretary Dave Ward has said previously.
“When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758m in profit and shareholders pocketing £400m, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company. The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s leadership is simple – there will be serious disruption until you get real on pay.”
The UK has been hit by a wave of strikes this summer as workers – aware that companies are already struggling to recruit talent – fight for pay increases to help with the soaring cost of living and rampant inflation.
Royal Mail was scathing in their assessment of the union’s decision to strike a second time.
“This change is also needed to support the pay package we have offered to CWU grade colleagues, worth up to 5.5%. This is the biggest increase we have offered for many years and the CWU have rejected it.”