Postal workers at more than 100 branches walked off the job during a day-long strike over a pay dispute.
The 114 Crown post offices will close for a 24-hour period, with no cash deliveries or collections at the 11,500 sub-post offices across the UK.
Members of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) are on strike over a pay freeze for 2021 and the offer of a 2% raise from April this year, alongside a one-off £250 lump sum .
Union officials said the offer was “exceptionally poor”, especially as RPI inflation hit 9%.
The conflict involves counter staff, as well as clerical, administrative and call center staff.
The CWU said all so-called Crown post offices will be affected by the walkout, as well as smaller secondary post offices.
A woman walks past a sign advising customers that a Post Office branch has closed due to industrial action, in St Albans, Hertfordshire
(Peter Cziborra/Reuters)
La Poste said the vast majority of its 11,500 branches were unaffected by the strike and would be open normally.
Footage posted to social media showed workers on the picket line outside closed Post Office branches across the UK, including in Glasgow, Belfast, north London, Derbyshire and County Durham.
CWU official Andy Furey said: “Despite this union’s best attempts to avoid a strike, the Post Office has shown no interest in serious negotiations.
“As such, workers have delivered an overwhelming strike mandate.
“The current offer of a pay raise of just 2% over two years is nothing short of an insult to those key workers who have provided exemplary service to this nation during the pandemic.
“As the cost of living crisis deepens, workers across the country are facing harsh realities.
“This is no less true for the employees of La Poste, who deserve much better than the degrading offer currently on the table.
“The Post Office management needs to understand that by undervaluing these workers, they have caused real anger across the country.
“We urge them to come to the table with us and reach a decent and fair deal that shows respect for Britain’s key workers who have kept post offices open for business during the pandemic.”
A La Poste spokesperson said: “We want to assure our customers that the vast majority of our 11,500 branches are not affected by this decision. [to strike] and will remain open all day.
Additional reporting by Press Association
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Source: www.independent.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-05-03 17:04:36
