The Communication Workers Union (CWU) at Royal Mail is due to strike on November 24, 25 and 30 and December 1. The strikes are set to coincide with Black Friday on November 25 and Cyber Monday on November 28. Improved pay and conditions are being sought by workers who accuse Royal Mail of ‘Uberising’ the company and ‘destroying’ their working conditions. Royal Mail rejects allegations that it is involved in casual handling of work. “We have the best terms and conditions in the industry. We pay 40% more than other parcel companies,” said a Royal Mail spokesman. “We want to maintain these terms and conditions. The best way to do that is to make the changes we require.” Further actions by postal officials have been reported. The CWU said its post would meet on Thursday to discuss further action ahead of Christmas. The union is set to hold a vote in a bid to reject a deal offered by Royal Mail on Monday. A vote of confidence in Royal Mail chief executive Simon Thompson is also due to take place. The deal offers a two-year 7% pay offer, the CWU said, which it described as “demanding” and a “dramatic pay cut in real terms”. The pay deal also includes mail center closures, changes to Sunday operations and “extensive changes around the introduction of Uber-style driver-owners,” the union added. Strikes were due this week and next, before the union pulled out on Sunday. “But our 115,000 members will not simply accept this war on their livelihoods and their industry,” said CWU general secretary Dave Ward. “Simon Thomson must either accept this or step aside – until he does one or the other, the serious disruption will continue.” Last month, the company said it would begin a process to cut 5,000 to 6,000 roles by August next year. The announcement blamed industrial action taken by Royal Mail workers, delays in improving productivity and a reduction in parcel volumes. The Royal Mail spokesman said the company had proposed a new “pay-to-change offer” to the CWU worth 9% over two years, despite making a loss of £219m in the first half of the year. “The CWU have been in talks with us at Acas and claim they are open to change but now they have to show it. “Instead, the CWU has announced four days of strike action which will further damage our business at our busiest time of year. “The CWU is playing a dangerous game with its members’ jobs and the future of Royal Mail. We urge the CWU to call off these strikes, for the good of our customers and our people. “We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience the ongoing CWU strike will cause. We are doing everything we can to minimize delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.”
