Postal workers across Bucks, Beds, and Herts strike for 13th day
Members of the Communications Workers Union are striking over pay, jobs, and conditions
Postal workers across Bucks, Beds, and Herts are due outside parliament today as they undertake their 13th day of strike action.
Who and why are they striking?
Members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) are striking over a long-running dispute with Royal Mail over pay, jobs, and conditions.
Steve Butts is the representative for the East of England. He has explained what the union want: "We are looking to defend our jobs. They're (Royal Mail) looking to make our people, our members, compulsory redundant and replace us with owner drivers.
"Pay is also part of our claim but we submitted that in February, so this is not us using Christmas as a pressure point."
He added: "I'm based in a sorting office and I know, I can see with my own eyes, what's going on everyday. They won't replace people, so deliveries don't go out everyday. It's not the service we want to give to the British public.
"It's a shame that the public get impacted when we have to take industrial action to protect our jobs ... but there is no other way."
What does Royal Mail say?
A statement posted of Royal Mail's website has said: "Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but we cannot fully replace the daily efforts of our frontline workforce. We’ll be doing what we can to keep services running, but we are sorry this planned strike action is likely to cause you some disruption."
They added: "Following several months of talks between Royal Mail and Communication Workers Union, including ACAS facilitation, Royal Mail has shared a best and final offer for pay and change.
"The revised offer includes .... an enhanced pay deal of 9% over 18 months and a number of other concessions to terms and agreements.
"We’re urging CWU leadership to accept the change and pay offer, call off future damaging strike action, for the good of our customers and our people. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU's continued strike action will cause. We are doing all we can to minimise delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected."
Are more strike dates due?
There are a number of other strike dates scheduled for this month including:
- Sunday 11th December
- Wednesday 14th December
- Thursday 15th December
- Friday 23rd December
- Saturday 24th December
How will I be impacted?
According to Royal Mail, staff will not be delivering post on strike days. But there will be exceptions made for those sent with Special Delivery, as well as Covid tests and prescriptions. Though it has been stressed that whilst delivery will be prioritised, it won't be possible in every case.
People are also being urged to send their Christmas items early to avoid being impacted by the strikes.