Royal Mail workers vote in favour of largest strike in a decade
Royal Mail will face its first national postal strike in a decade after workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a mass walkout.
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The motion was passed by more than 97 per cent of the votes following a ballot of roughly 110,000 Communication Workers Union (CWU) members.
The union said the result represented the largest ‘yes’ vote for national industrial actions since the passing of the Trade Union Act in 2016. More than 75 per cent of members took part in the ballot.
Posties have accused Royal Mail of failing to live up to an agreement reached last year over a raft of issues, including pay and conditions.
The CWU did not say when the proposed strikes would take place, but previous reports have suggested workers could walk out over Christmas or the key Black Friday period in November.
Terry Pullinger, CWU deputy general secretary, said: “Our members take honour seriously and have voted to fight for that agreement against those who now seek to break up the great British Postal service in the interest of fast track profit and greed.
“Integrity and pride still matters and we will not stand aside and see what we have spent our working lives building destroyed.”
The CWU called for Royal Mail to enter into “serious negotiations” with the union.
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Royal Mail said it was “disappointed” that workers had chosen to ballot for a strike. “A ballot result for industrial action does not necessarily mean there will be industrial action; we are still in mediation with the CWU,” it said in a statement.
Main image credit: Getty