Royal Mail staff set to vote on strike action which could delay your post
As many as 110,000 Royal Mail employees are going to decide on a potential walkout over a pension row.
POSTAL workers could be balloted on strike action after four weeks of pension reform talks ended in stalemate yesterday.
The Communication Workers Union, which represents 110,000 Royal Mail employees, says it will decide next week whether to recommend a ballot on a potential walkout over changes to their final-salary scheme.
Deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger told CWU members industrial action is their “ultimate weapon” adding: “If it has to go the most difficult route, so be it.”
Royal Mail pays about £400million a year into the pension pot but claims that bill could more than double to over £1billion if changes are not made.
In a video to CWU members yesterday, Mr Pullinger expressed his “frustration” at the lack of progress but warned there were outstanding issues the union was not prepared to compromise on.
He said he would be making a recommendation to the CWU executive on Tuesday ahead of a final decision on a ballot after Royal Mail bosses rejected a pension plan drawn up by the union.
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Workers have been told they must choose between a scheme which offers a cash payout on top of contributions or a defined contribution plan based on stock market results alone.
Royal Mail said yesterday it remains “committed to actively negotiating” with the CWU but added: “We believe there are no grounds for industrial action.”
