Postal workers in London are threatening a new wave of strike action over job fears, potentially bringing chaos to the timing of seasonal direct mail campaigns.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has confirmed that postal workers in London voted by four to one in favour of strike action in light of mail centre closures in the capital.
The CWU fears that the closures would lead to compulsory redundancies. The union then warned that “up to 3,500 Royal Mail staff will take strike action unless reassurances are given over job security and concerns of bullying are addressed”.
However, Royal Mail claims there is no justification for the strike threat and that essential changes are being made without the need for compulsory redundancies.
The ballot – which closed earlier this week– saw 79 per cent of voters agree to strike action.
A CWU spokesman said: “London postal workers have sent a clear message to Royal Mail in this ballot that they will not be bullied or intimidated by the company.
“Royal Mail’s closure plans are a clear threat of compulsory redundancy and this is completely unacceptable. In their race to push services to the bottom, Royal Mail will eventually provoke a reaction wider than London,” he warned.
But Royal Mail said the ballot for strike action was only supported by 37 per cent of all operational employees at the affected sites, and stated “there was not a strong mandate for disruptive strike action”.
With mail volumes in London expected to more than halve between 2006 and 2014, Royal Mail said it is investing £69m to modernise the operations that remain in Greater London.
As a result of modernisation plans in the capital, 580 people are likely to leave Royal Mail, although the company said 673 employees “have expressed an interest in taking voluntary redundancy”.
Gerry O’Rourke, Royal Mail’s regional operations director, London, said: “I know that it is always a difficult time when changes of this kind are announced.
“The reality is that almost 700 full-time Royal Mail people in London have already expressed an interest in taking a voluntary redundancy package that is worth up to two years’ salary. More than 300 are already being progressed.
“We’ve got to change. In 2014 the number of items posted in London will have fallen by more than half since 2006. But we will achieve these changes through voluntary means.
“There is no justification for strike action. The union has not received a strong mandate from employees. Nearly two thirds of the employees it represents failed to support the call for strike action. The CWU should instead focus on supporting people during this period of change.”
