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Postal workers approve Royal Mail strike

07/06/2007

Royal Mail workers have voted for strike action over a pay dispute which could result in the UK's first national postal strike in over a decade.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) employed by Royal Mail endorsed the postal stoppage.

The resolution to strike was passed during a ballot at their annual conference in Bournemouth by 66,064 to 19,119 votes.

Union leaders are now preparing to call for further talks with Royal Mail's management in order to avert the first national postal walkout since 1996.

Royal Mail's bosses insist their company must modernise if it is to survive in the future.

"Clearly we don't want a strike. We will do everything we can to minimise any problems a strike will cause," the company said in a statement.

"But we can't turn back the tide of competition and we must move ahead with the modernisation of the business. This is the only way to protect the long-term future of the Royal Mail, on which we know our customers depend."

Union bosses rejected a 2.5 per cent pay offer made by Royal Mail in response to demands that postal workers should have their wages increased to the national average over the next five years. Royal Mail said the proposal amounted to a 27 per cent pay rise which it could not afford.
CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "This 'yes' vote shows absolutely clearly that Royal Mail workers have rejected the company's business plan, the company's leadership and the unacceptable pay offer.

"Royal Mail leaders say they listen to people; this is the clearest message they have ever had. Royal Mail has to listen and return to serious negotiations."

Today's ballot of postal workers is one of three held during the CWU's conference, with 127,000 Royal Mail staff and two separate employee groups also set to vote over pay and conditions.

Around 5,000 CWU members employed by the Post Office are to vote in protest at planned closures and proposals to relocate some branches into WH Smith stores, while Royal Mail cash handlers will also vote on strike action.

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