Royal Mail workers vote to strike in pay dispute with 115,000 staff set to walk off the job
THOUSANDS of Royal Mail staff have voted to strike over a pay dispute that will see 115,000 walk out.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said 97.6% of members who voted backed strikes in a 77% turnout, meaning there could be massive disruptions to postal deliveries in the near future.
The union have not yet announced a date but their industrial action could be the latest strike during the "summer of discontent".
The CWU have demanded that the Royal Mail begin talks to agree to a "straight, no-strings"; pay rise.
The union said: "The vote can leave no doubt that postal workers are united, and that they are demanding the proper pay rise they deserve."
The announcement comes just a day after a separate dispute at the Royal Mail managed to avoid strike action.
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Unite had initially proposed a three-day walkout from 2,400 managers to start tomorrow over jobs, pay and conditions but have called it off.
Unions are attempting to get pay hikes for staff that match soaring inflation rates, which currently stands at 9.1 per cent.
That is a 40-year high for inflation in this country.
Royal Mail boss Simon Thompson told Sky News last month that the company had offered staff a 5.5 per cent pay rise with no strings attached.
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They have also given workers a unconditional 2 per cent pay increase due to the cost of living that will come in from this month.
He added: "Our team definitely deserve a pay increase. I think we all recognise what's around us in terms of the cost of living crisis.
"None of us are immune to that, my team are not immune to that."