Royal Mail postal strike dates could be announced today if CWU demands not met

The CWU and Royal Mail have been locked in battle since June over Royal Mail’s implementation of its modernisation plan. CWU workers have been performing near-constant localised strikes throughout the dispute, which they say is about Royal Mail’s refusal to consider the views and interests of workers as it goes about modernisation.

According to the CWU, its current offer to the Royal mail “would help restore customer confidence at a crucial time for the Royal Mail while addressing outstanding problems of job security, work levels, bullying, and reward.”

The offer included a demand for greater job security and better benefits for postal workers, along with a promise not to allow budget deficits to affect staff levels. The CWU also said that it should have the right to say what a fair day’s workload was and asked Royal Mail to say what its business plan was and to change its plan only by agreement with the union.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said, "Postal workers do not want to have to take strike action, but neither are they prepared to put up with continuing attacks from a management which is failing.

"We have today written to Royal Mail making it clear that the CWU is ready to issue notice for a national strike as voted for by three quarters of postal workers. More importantly, we have offered what we believe is a genuine alternative to reach a lasting agreement. This is an opportunity to avoid a national strike, restore customer confidence and resolve the concerns of staff. If Royal Mail really is sincere about reaching an agreement we expect them to take up this offer for the interests of all involved in the mail industry."

Should Royal Mail refuse the deal offered by the CWU, the union said it would announce the dates of a national strike this Thursday.

Royal Mail has said that its modernisation plan is necessary due to an annual fall in mail volumes of 10 per cent. The CWU has claimed that the real drop in mail volumes is closer to seven per cent. Both sides have accused each other of reneging on a deal signed following the last national postal strike in 2007.

The Confederation of British Industry has condemned the possibility of a national strike action, saying that such a move “would present a real threat” to companies who depend on a winter bounce from consumers doing their Christmas shopping.

Already websites such as eBay and Amazon, which rely heavily on the postal service to deliver goods bought online, have started searching for alternative delivery suppliers for the duration of the strike.