Union leader accuses Royal Mail CEO of 'goading' members as row over pay and conditions intensifies

A union boss has hit out at Royal Mail’s Chief Executive for “goading” its members and creating “a psychological attack” on postal workers.

Members of the union are midway through a series of strikes in the run-up to Christmas, in an increasingly bitter dispute over pay and conditions.

Royal Mail claims it has received more than 100 reports or allegations of “unacceptable behaviour” on the picket lines towards staff who chose to work during the strikes.

CEO Simon Thompson said that striking workers had demonstrated "extraordinary behaviours" and that he has heard allegations of racism, sexism, vandalism, intimidation and violence.

The Secretary General of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Dave Ward has accused Mr Thompson of "lying" and has called for his behaviour to be investigated.

He told Sky News: "He goes on (social media) every single day, including weekends. and he goads our members," Mr Ward said.

"He’s brought in a team of union and worker busters and they’re deliberately creating a psychological attack on every single worker.

"Go out and ask postal workers how they feel about this particular CEO."

Royal Mail has written to Ward asking him to intervene and "end the pattern of wholly unacceptable behaviours on picket lines across the country". 

A Communication Workers Union spokesperson said: “These allegations are as embarrassing as they are untrue. 
 
“For a CEO who spends his every waking hour, intimidating, gaslighting and mocking our members online, to have the front to target others for wholly legal and friendly picketing is beyond a joke. 
  
“The Royal Mail Group CEO Simon Thompson needs to spend less time online harassing his staff and in interviews where he needs someone off camera directing him and more time around the negotiating table. 
 
“Our members want to go back to work and save Christmas for 32 million households in the UK but they will not bow down to a culture of intimidation.”

The CWU says it wants a pay rise that matches inflation - which is currently 11.1%.

Royal Mail has given an offer of a 9% pay rise, which was subject to changes such as Sunday working and flexible working.

So far, talks aimed at resolving the dispute have been ineffective.

Last month, Royal Mail announced plans to axe up to 6,000 roles by next August, blaming strike action and a decline in business.

The company reported a first-half adjusted operating loss of £57 million as parcel volumes slide from pandemic highs amid a tightening cost-of-living squeeze for customers.

It comes as rail workers, civil servants, firefighters, NHS staff and teachers are among the tens of thousands expected to take industrial action in the coming weeks.

Steve Brine, chairman of the Commons health committee, said strikes in the coming weeks could cause more chaos than the infamous "winter of discontent" in the 1970s.

Andy Prendergast, the GMB national secretary – whose union represents some of the ambulance staff concerned – hinted at the possibility coordinated strike action across the NHS to cause "maximum impact".