BREAKING NEWS: Royal Mail workers will strike for 48 hours from midday on October 19 in dispute over pensions, pay and jobs

  • Communication Workers Union striking over move to replace pension scheme
  • Royal Mail strike could potentially threatening postal delays at Christmas
  • Firm said then that it was committed to further talks as a matter of urgency

By ALEX MATTHEWS FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Royal Mail workers are to stage a 48-hour strike over pensions, jobs and better pay.

Industrial action will be launched from noon on October 19, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said.

The move comes after the union opposed the company's move to replace its defined benefit pension scheme.

The action will be the first strike at Royal Mail since the postal group was privatised in October 2013.

Communication Workers Union members backed industrial action by 89 per cent today 

Communication Workers Union members backed industrial action by 89 per cent today 

'We have served notice on Royal Mail Group for a 48hour strike commencing 19th October,' CWU said on Twitter.

Workers voted to strike on Tuesday, potentially threatening postal delays at Christmas.

Royal Mail has said that it was committed to further talks as a matter of urgency.

A spokesman said: 'We believe any strike action before the dispute resolution procedures have been followed would be unlawful strike action.'

CWU has said Royal Mail's move to replace the pension scheme would result in members losing on average up to a third of their future pensions.

The vote passed the threshold in the Government's controversial Trade Union Act, under which ballots need a 50 per cent turnout for industrial action to go ahead 

The vote passed the threshold in the Government's controversial Trade Union Act, under which ballots need a 50 per cent turnout for industrial action to go ahead 

Originally there was concern that workers could walk out on November 24 and 25, to coincide with the 'Black Friday' sales when many families start their Christmas shopping.

A strike on those dates would have have caused chaos at sorting offices and delay the delivery of millions of items snapped up online at heavy discounts. 

 

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