Postal workers on strike again

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated:

 

Postal workers took to picket lines as a fresh 24-hour strike went ahead in a bitter row over pay and jobs.

The Communication Workers Union said up to 130,000 of its members walked out at 7pm yesterday, following an earlier stoppage last month.

At midday today, postal workers plan to arrive at the Royal Mail's head office in London on a red open-top bus.

They will hand over an oversized open letter addressed to Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton, calling for a return to negotiations.

The union has rejected a 2.5% pay offer and warned that the Royal Mail's modernisation plans will lead to the loss of 40,000 jobs. Union representatives met with Royal Mail earlier this week in a bid to begin fresh talks.

But the union later said: 'Disappointingly, Royal Mail simply concentrated on reiterating their previous offer that the workforce has already overwhelmingly rejected.'

The Royal Mail has said it was 'deeply disappointed' that another strike had been called, warning of further disruption for customers. It has said it was ready to meet the union at any time to explain its offer.

Business leaders have called on the Government to intervene in the dispute.

A spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses previously said: 'A payment delayed in the post can mean the difference between life and death for a small firm.'

Mr Leighton said last night: 'Yet again the union has refused to grasp or understand the harsh commercial reality of the market in which Royal Mail now operates and the consequences for all of us if we don't modernise - and do it quickly.

'Their decision to call another strike changes nothing and achieves nothing other than to damage the business and our customers and drive more of them towards the internet or to rival operators.'

He added: 'This pay offer is fair and it's what Royal Mail can afford. Hurting the business and its customers with repeated strikes will only make it more difficult to afford.

'What we are focusing on is the long term business plan agreed with our shareholder - the Government - in which £1.2bn of public funds are being invested to secure a future for this company and its people, and enable it to continue to provide great quality of service for its customers for years to come.'

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