Strikes by Royal Mail workers called off over next two weeks

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that after a letter from Royal Mail’s legal team, it had decided to withdraw industrial action notices for the next two weeks.

Strikes had been planned to take place 6 days between the 2^nd and the 10^th November. The CWU said that  strikes will resume on Saturday 12 November.

Members of the union have been in a long-running bitter dispute with the Royal Mail over pay and conditions.

Talks resumed at the conciliation service Acas on Monday. 

The union said the move to withdraw strikes had provoked ire among its 115,000 members at the Royal Mail.

The CWU’s acting deputy and general secretary, Andy Furey, said: “We entirely understand the anger felt by many over the decision but we believe it is a necessary move to protect our dispute.

“Our members have been facing down serious harassment from the highest levels of Royal Mail as they defend their industry and those communities they serve.

“They will not be forced into submission so easily, and we will be reminding the company of their determination at Acas in the coming days.”

The dispute is centred around pay amid the rising impact of the cost-of-living crisis and conditions, including the modernisation of the company.

Royal Mail said in a statement: “The CWU has withdrawn strike action following Royal Mail writing to CWU to highlight numerous material concerns with the formal notification of planned rolling strike action.

“Royal Mail and CWU have planned talks at Acas on Monday 31 October. We will continue to do all we can to keep business, companies and the country connected.”

On Monday, Royal Mail proposed a new conditional pay-for-change offer to the CWU worth 9% for CWU-grade colleagues.

The offer includes a 7% salary increase over two years, plus a lump sum payment of 2% of pay this year and is subject to agreeing a programme of change with the CWU.

Royal Mail said the offer includes changes to Sunday working, start times and flexible working, so the company can "re-invent and compete in the growing parcels market".

In mid-October, Royal Mail warned that as many as 10,000 jobs were at risk in response to strikes as the company swung to a first-half adjusted operating loss of £219 mn.

Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson said: “We have always been clear that the more we can change the business, the more we will be able to pay our people – both now and in the future.

"We urge the CWU leadership to accept the change and pay offer without delay, call off damaging strike action, and help us to transform the business. That is the only way to secure Royal Mail’s future and ensure job security for our people.”