Royal Mail workers will go ahead with the strikes planned for December 14, 15, 23 and 24.
On December 13, the CWU requested a back-dated pay deal of 9% over 18 months and a long-term job security commitment from Royal Mail CEOs. The union also reportedly asked for a period of calm for negotiations on the future direction of the company.
According to CWU, Royal Mail responded by sending a one-page document, via ACAS, at 3:45pm, as well as releasing a statement to the media about the strikes at 3pm, and a strike-breaking video on internal social media channels.
A statement on the Royal Mail website said, “Following several months of talks between Royal Mail and Communication Workers Union, including ACAS facilitation, Royal Mail has shared a best and final offer for pay and change. The revised offer includes extensive improvements that have been made during the negotiations with the CWU, including an enhanced pay deal of 9% over 18 months and a number of other concessions to terms and agreements. The offer is subject to agreeing a program of change with the CWU. We’re urging CWU leadership to accept the change and pay offer and call off future damaging strike action, for the good of our customers and our people.”
Dave Ward, general secretary of the CWU, said, “Today’s actions by Royal Mail CEOs show they couldn’t be less interested in resolving this dispute or saving Christmas – their sole intention is to destroy the livelihoods of over 115,000 postal workers and wreck the service they provide. Posties are facing an outright assault on their livelihoods and dignity, and have no choice but to see this dispute through to its conclusion. The reckless, aggressive and bullying attitude from senior managers of this company is now totally out of control. When our members take strike action on Wednesday and Thursday, the question every media outlet should be asking is not why they’re striking, but why these people are being allowed to get away with the evaporation of a 500-year-old national treasure.”