yesterday the Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced a further day of strike action commencing the evening of Thursday 12th July and continuing through Friday 13th July.
Royal Mail group workers will begin 24 hours of strike action with shifts commencing after 1900 hours.
In announcing the strike, the CWU said it is again providing a further opportunity for Royal Mail to return to negotiations or face more strikes.
CWU Deputy General Secretary, Dave Ward has written to Allan Leighton, Royal Mail chairman, to personally take part in fresh negotiations.
Ward said yesterday: ‘Our members have no choice.
‘They’ve been driven to take strike action by Royal Mail’s refusal to enter serious negotiations.
‘Allan Leighton has the personal opportunity to avoid more strikes, if he chooses to do so, simply by returning to meaningful negotiations.
‘If he again is dismissive of his employees then there will be further strike action.
‘He has seven days, the ball is in Allan Leighton’s court.
‘Over 95 per cent of the workforce took part in the strike action last Friday.
‘It shows the extent of the overwhelming support of the workforce to achieve both a decent pay rise and an agreed approach to automation and major change.
‘This problem will not go away.
‘Royal Mail are in denial if they think otherwise and it is in Allan Leighton’s hands to take the workforce forward with him.’
Ward stressed that CWU members face losing 40,000 jobs as well as a pay cutting pay offer and attacks on their conditions.
In his letter, Ward says: ‘Royal Mail must return to the approach agreed in 2006. This means change can be introduced in a way that genuinely benefits customers, the workforce and the company.’
South East London CWU rep Billy Colvill said: ‘Royal Mail are not going to give in, nor are our members.
‘Postal workers are prepared to take action.
‘It’s necessary to have a public sector alliance take action alongside CWU postal workers. We need that action to make sure that we are going to win.
‘The government stands behind Royal Mail.
‘It wants to smash up Royal Mail to hand it over to privateers.
‘The only way they can do this is to drive workers’ wages down and cut jobs.
‘Dave Ward is being idealistic. Royal Mail management have shown no indication of coming back to the table for negotiations at all.
‘We have to dig in for a serious fight.
‘We’re running separate ballots for strike action in SE and SW London, on top of the national ballot, because of the action of SE and SW managers and cuts.’