Post Office workers across Scotland take strike action over pay dispute

Crown Post Offices from Glasgow to Inverness could be affected over the Platinum Jubilee weekend

Author: Anna MackenziePublished 4th Jun 2022
Last updated 4th Jun 2022

Post Office workers across Scotland and the UK are going on strike during the jubilee weekend in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at Crown Post Offices - the larger branches often sited on high streets - will walk out today (Saturday, 4 June, 2022) and in administration and supply chain networks on Monday.

Several offices across Scotland could be affected by the strikes, which follow industrial action earlier this month.

The union said Post Office management is insisting on a pay freeze for 2021-22 and a "marginally improved" pay offer for 2022.

Carole Bowmaker from the CWU told us: "Post Office workers have worked all through the pandemic as key workers, and their reward was to get a pay freeze.

"They have actually declared a profit of over £34 million, so it's not that they don't have the money."

"Degrading excuse for an offer"

Around 3,500 union members are involved in the dispute.

CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: "Our members do not want to be in this situation, but they won't accept humiliation either.

"Our members worked hard to deliver an excellent annual profit for the company - affordability isn't management's problem here.

"Frankly, their degrading excuse for an offer has only hardened members, who won't tolerate a collapse in their living standards.

"We thank the public for their understanding and support, and we urge Post Office to get round the table and thrash out a real settlement that treats key worker heroes with the respect they deserve."

A Post Office spokesperson said: "We want to assure our customers that the vast majority of our branches are unaffected by CWU strike action on Saturday.

"There are 114 branches, typically in city centres, that are directly managed by Post Office.

"Over two thirds would normally only be open between 9am and 12.30pm on a Saturday. We apologise to any customers who are inconvenienced by a closure."

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