Royal Mail workers plan October strike

Royal Mail workers have voted to strike between October 19 and 21, which could impact online retail deliveries in a row over pensions.

The Communication Workers Union, which represents 110,000 postal workers, have confirmed that 89 percent of voters backed industrial action and that they have planned to walk out for 48 hours later this month.

The move comes as postal workers raised concerns over pensions following Royal Mail’s decision to close its final pension scheme, as well as issues over job security, pay, and the “future of the service” stated the Communication Workers Union, general secretary Dave Ward.

Deputy general secretary (Postal) Terry Pullinger said: “It is highly disappointing that after 18 months of negotiations including external mediation that we have reached this point. Royal Mail Group management have clearly moved away from the spirit and intent of our agreements and the empty promises of privatisation, and have suffered a huge vote of no confidence from their employees and CWU members as a consequence.”

In response, Royal Mail gave the union a deadline to withdraw its strike threat, which they did not meet it, so they have said that they will lodge an application with the High Court for an injunction to prevent a 48-strike from happening.

In a statement, Royal Mail said that they had written to the union, invoking a “legally-binding external mediation process” and calling the prospect of industrial action unlawful, however, the Communications Workers Union declined to withdraw its strike threat.

If the strike goes ahead, it will be the first time that postal workers have walked out since the Royal Mail was privatised in 2015.

The action later this month will unlikely affect the run-up to Christmas, which gets into full swing from Black Friday, it will, however, cause major disruptions to deliveries.