Postal union boss vows ‘smash Royal Mail to bits’ over pensions dispute which could mean a damaging strike in the run-up to Christmas
Terry Pullinger warned of a fight as 110,000 posties were balloted on strike action
A POSTAL union leader has vowed to “smash the Royal Mail to bits” in a dispute over pensions.
Terry Pullinger warned of a fight as 110,000 posties were balloted on strike action.
Bosses want to scrap their final salary retirement scheme and replace it with a less-generous system.
But Mr Pullinger, deputy general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said he would rather destroy the industry than back down.
He told members: “We’re going to fight. Every postal worker I’ve ever known built this industry.
“I’d rather smash it to bits than hand it over to them, to stuff their mouths with gold and make your lives a misery.”
Ballot papers were sent to members this weekend. A decision will be announced on October 3.
It could mean a damaging strike in the run-up to Christmas, which is the Royal Mail’s busiest and most profitable period.
Last night Tory chairman Patrick McLoughlin blasted the union chief’s threat of self-inflicted harm on his members’ jobs and livelihoods.
He said: “Yet again Labour’s union paymasters are happier to post a ransom note to the country than work to improve the resources that deliver a first-class service to Britain.”
The CWU has given nearly £2.8million to the Labour Party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader, making it the party’s fifth biggest donor.
Mr Corbyn has told the union that if he gets into power, renationalisation of the Royal Mail will be on his agenda.
