Crewe Royal Mail workers to join national strike this week
By The Editor
27th Sep 2022 | Local News
Crewe Royal Mail workers will resume their strike this week following a postponement - due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II earlier this month.
The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has organised a two-day strike from Friday 30 September to Saturday 1 October.
This follows strikes on August 8 and August 31. Planned strikes for September 8 and September 9 were postponed - following the death of The Queen.
115,000 took part in the summer's strikes across the country - wanting more than the offered two per cent pay rise.
The basic salary for a full time postal worker is under £25,000.
One member of the CWU told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the company had backtracked on its promises.
Speaking from the picket line at Weston Road, Crewe, he said: "During the pandemic our CEO said we deserved a pay rise, we'd done a wonderful job over the last two and half years – which everyone has, working seven days a week.
"Now he's said there isn't enough money for a pay rise.
"This year they announced they made £758m profit, then a £400m dividend was given out to shareholders and the next thing that comes out from the company is we can't afford it, we're imposing a two per cent pay rise.
"The union said we require some more. Then Royal Mail comes up with their 5.5% offer, but for the other 3.5% they turned round and said we want new working conditions."
This dispute will mean you can't post letters or parcels for 48 hours.
If you're expecting something in the post - you may have to wait a little longer.
Items posted the day before the strike will also be affected.
COVID test kits and medical prescriptions will be prioritised for delivery, as will special or tracked 24 parcels.
Letters will be at the back of the pile.
Royal Mail has claimed the strikes are putting jobs at risk - losing £1 million a day.
Yesterday (September 26), A spokesperson told iNews: "The CWU's decision to announce further strike action is placing jobs at risk.
"Royal Mail is losing £1m a day. Strike action has weakened our financial position and is threatening the long-term job security of our postmen and women.
"The CWU has a responsibility to recognise the reality of the situation Royal Mail faces as a business and to engage urgently on the changes required.
"We are now a parcels business. We must adapt old ways of working designed for letters to a world increasingly dominated by parcels and act fast.
"We want to protect well-paid, permanent jobs long term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay, terms and conditions."
The workers on Crewe picket line apologised for any inconvenience caused to customers.
They said the last thing they wanted to do was strike but the offer was not acceptable – especially in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
READ MORE: Crewe residents slam 'saturated' takeaway proposals.
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