ROYAL Mail staff in Rugby stood on the picket line today (Friday August 26) as they joined a national strike.
Rugby Royal Mail staff picketed the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Mill Road, joining around 115,000 Royal Mail postal workers around the country who are striking in a dispute over pay.
It is the first of four days of industrial action, with walkouts also taking place on August 31 and September 8 and 9.
Royal Mail has warned that letters will not be delivered on strike days, and some parcels will be delayed.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents the strikers, says Royal Mail has ‘imposed a two per cent rise on workers without the agreement of the union’.
Dave Patton, spokesman for the Rugby branch of the CWU said: “There is no doubt about the level of support among our members. Throughout the country, 98 percent voted in favour of taking the argument to Royal Mail and, despite the spin that Royal Mail has put on their two per cent pay offer, many of our customers are rooting for us.
“Our customers are aware that the cost of living is continuing to rise, and inflation will soar into double figures. What Royal Mail can’t ignore is that a two per cent increase is not only insulting, but it will also amount to a pay cut.”
A national CWU spokesperson said: “This is at a time when RPI inflation is currently running at 11.8 per cent and when Royal Mail has announced Group profits of £758million – and when the company is paying out many millions to private shareholders.
“The pay dispute is not complicated. Our members are striking for a pay rise that fully addresses the current cost of living. Our members need it, our members deserve it – the company can afford it.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said the strike was ‘putting jobs at risk and making pay rises less affordable’.
They said: “We cannot cling to outdated working practices, ignoring technological advancements and pretending that Covid has not significantly changed what the public wants from Royal Mail.
“The CWU want to work fewer hours, six days a week, starting and finishing earlier. Their plans to transform Royal Mail come with a £1billion price tag, and prevent Royal Mail from growing, and remaining competitive, in a fast-moving industry.
“We must adapt old ways of working designed for letters to a world increasingly dominated by parcels, and we must act fast. We want to protect well-paid, permanent jobs long-term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay, terms and conditions. That is in the best interests of Royal Mail and all its employees.
“We remain ready to talk with the CWU to try and avert damaging industrial action and prevent significant inconvenience for customers. But any talks must be about both change and pay.”
