Royal Mail workers across West Cheshire strike for better pay deal

A number of picket lines were set up in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Neston and Frodsham as members of the Communication Workers Union – which represents Royal Mail Group workers – began what is planned to be a series of national strike action days and what is said to be 'summer's biggest strike'.

CWU members strike for a better pay deal. Pictured are CWU members on the Sealand Road Sorting and Transport Depot picket line. Photo by Ray McHale.

This will be followed by further strike action on Wednesday, August 31, Thursday, September 8 and Friday, September 9.

The decision follows the union’s recent ballot for strike action over pay, which saw members vote by 97.6% on a 77% turnout to take action.

The union is demanding that Royal Mail Group make an adequate pay award that covers the current cost of living increases.

CWU members strike for a better pay deal. Pictured are CWU members on the Hoole Bridge Delivery Office picket line. Photo by Felicity Dowling.

Management imposed a 2% pay rise on employees, who were classified as key workers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, through executive action earlier this summer.

CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.

CWU members strike for a better pay deal. Pictured are CWU members on the Frodsham Delivery Officet picket line. Picture by Jeanette Fletcher.

“We can’t keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks.

“When Royal Mail bosses are raking in £758 million in profit and shareholders pocketing in excess of £400 million, our members won’t accept pleads of poverty from the company.

CWU members strike for a better pay deal. Pictured are CWU members on the Sealand Road Sorting and Transport Depot picket line. Photo by Ray McHale.

“Postal workers won’t meekly accept their living standards being hammered by greedy business leaders who are completely out of touch with modern Britain.

“They are sick of corporate failure getting rewarded again and again.

CWU members strike for a better pay deal. Pictured are CWU members on the Neston picket line. Photo by Felicity Dowling.

“Royal Mail’s leadership have lost the dressing room – and unless they make efforts to get real on discussing a pay rise that postal workers deserve, serious disruption will continue.”

CWU Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger said: “Our members worked miracles during the pandemic and know full well what they are worth.

“They are fighting for a no strings, real-terms pay rise – something they are fully entitled to.

“Those managing Royal Mail Group are treating our members with contempt by imposing such a minimal amount.

“Royal Mail Group have failed to recognise the strength of feeling and have clearly lost the dressing room on pay, so they have left us with no choice but to fight.

“Our members deserve a pay rise that rewards their fantastic achievements in keeping the country connected during the pandemic, but also helps them keep up during this current economic crisis.

“We won’t be backing down until we get just that.”

In response, Royal Mail Group said the strikes were "putting jobs at risk and making pay rises less affordable", claiming it was losing £1 million a day.

A company spokesperson said: "The change we need is the change the public demand of us. They want more and bigger parcels delivered the next day – including Sundays – and more environmentally friendly options.

"They want this at a competitive price, with great quality of service. 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.

"While our competitors work seven days a week, delivering until 10pm to meet customer demand, 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, are predicated on a wholly unrealistic revival in letter writing, and prevent Royal Mail from growing, and remaining competitive, in a fast-moving industry. The CWU’s vision for Royal Mail would create a vicious spiral of falling volumes, higher prices, bigger losses, and fewer jobs.

"Our future is as a parcels business. 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 apologise to our customers, and the public for the inconvenience the CWU’s strike action will cause. We have offered to meet the CWU numerous times in recent weeks, but they declined each invitation, preferring to spend their time on the political agenda of the UK trade union movement. 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.

"We have contingency plans to minimise customer disruption and will work to keep people, businesses and the country connected."

CWU members strike for a better pay deal. Pictured is a CWU member on the Hoole Bridge Delivery Office picket line. Photo by Felicity Dowling.