CWU In the News

The postal dispute featured strongly in the newspapers today. The Guardian led with “postal workers threaten fresh round of strikes this month”, reporting that the Union would “call on 130 000 workers within Royal Mail to take action before the end of the month unless it gets a deal covering pay, conditions and pensions”. The paper reported that Royal Mail was planning to “impose changes in working practices unilaterally”.

All the newspapers reported that the company had been forced to increase its headline pay offer from 2.5% to a 2 year deal worth 6.7% with additional lump sums.

The Daily Mirror led with “post strike fear” and reported that the Union claimed “bosses are trying to bulldoze through changes” to conditions. The paper also reported the Union as being “furious over proposed pension reforms”.

The Daily Express covered wider action across trade Unions hailing a “new winter of discontent”. This included reports on strikes across the public sector but led on the potential re-launch of postal strikes. It said that “employers had improved the offer to 6.7% over 2 years but that Royal Mail was sticking to proposals on pensions and change working patterns”.

The Daily Mail and The Sun also waded in with reports on postal strikes looming. Postal workers “warned yesterday that they will strike unless a dispute over pay and conditions is resolved” explained The Daily Mail