04/10/2007

Royal Mail Workers Go On Strike

Postal workers across the UK began the first in a series of countrywide strikes on Thursday afternoon.

Around 130,000 members of the Communication Workers Union began a 48-hour walkout at noon on Thursday, following a failure to reach an agreement during last-minute talks with Royal Mail.

A second 48-hour strike is due to take place on October 8.

Severe disruption is expected to the postal service, with deliveries expected to be disrupted until well into next week, and Royal Mail is advising customers to avoid posting mail during the times that the strike is taking place.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of the strike action, but we would ask our customers to avoid posting mail during the strikes and, if they do so, then to post any mail at Post Office branches, which will all be open for business as usual."

The strikes are being held in a dispute over pay and fears of job cuts, due to Royal Mail's modernisation reforms.

Royal Mail insists that it needs to dramatically reform in order to be able to compete with increased competition.

(KMcA)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 October 2009
Vote For UK Mail Strike Questioned
It could be a cold festive season this year as the Christmas post is now in doubt. But while it looks like being seriously affected now that Royal Mail workers have voted for a national strike - management insist that a majority are not in favour.
25 January 2011
Met Police Seize Scam Mail Aimed At UK Victims
In the first operation of its kind, officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Economic and Specialist Crime Unit (Operation Sterling) took possession of a bulk delivery of scam mail intended for vulnerable victims across the UK and searched and closed five virtual offices used by the scammers.
16 October 2013
Royal Mail Workers Balloted Over National Strike Action
Royal Mail could face its first national strike in almost four years, as the Communication Workers Union hold a ballot over action in a dispute over workers terms and condition at the newly privatised company.
09 October 2007
Bitter Row Ensues As Postal Strike Continues
A bitter war of words has erupted between the Royal Mail and the Communication Workers' Union as the postal strike continues. Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier rubbished CWU's claims that the way the firm treated its employees was like "slavery". Mr Crozier accused the union of talking "cobblers".
18 October 2004
Royal Mail urged to redouble efforts to stop mass mail scams
Royal Mail has been told to "tighten" its procedures in an effort to try to stop fraudsters using the postal system to get to consumers. The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) made the calls after statistics revealed that 67% of complaints about scams aimed at consumers relate to items delivered through the post.