Royal Mail strike – live: Postal workers hold rally in London as walkout causes delays

The strike is aimed at securing job security for Royal Mail workers, CWU general secretary Dave Ward said.

He told PA it was about “giving job security to postal workers who only 18 months ago were hailed as key workers.

“They kept the country going, they kept the country connected and they delivered and picked up all of the test kits.

“So it’s about keeping postal workers, decent working people, in work and making sure that this company has a successful future and that it doesn’t just get turned into just another parcel courier.”

The thousands of postal workers striking on Friday are not prepared to accept conditions that will “destroy” the Royal Mail under the banner of modernisation, the boss of the Communication Workers Union has said.

Dave Ward told the PA news agency: “They’re fighting for their jobs, their livelihood, and the service that they provide to the public.

“What we’ve got in this situation is not that we’re fearful of modernisation, but what the company are asking postal workers to agree is that we sack thousands of them whilst at the same time bringing in self-employed drivers, new recruits on less than 20% pay terms and conditions and whilst retaining agency workers.”

He said the company’s demands for workers to start up to three hours later “will destroy the future of Royal Mail”.

The CWU (The Communication Workers Union) has shared a photo depicting the mass attendance at the Parliament Square rally. Striking workers and supporters alike have come out in their droves.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said the Government wants to avoid agreeing to the pay demand of striking workers as it will risk locking in high inflation across the UK economy.

He told the Financial Times’ Global Boardroom webinar: “We have to be really careful not to agree to pay demands that have the opposite of the intended effect because they lock in high inflation.

“So if we make the wrong choices now, we won’t have that 3.7% of inflation in January or February of 2024 and this will change from being a one-off problem, to being a permanent problem, which will be the worst possible thing for people working in public services.

“That is why it’s generally a very difficult issue.”

When asked whether the Treasury played a role in blocking rail workers’ demands for a 10% pay rise, he said the Treasury, Number 10 and individual spending departments are united in their approach to the situation.

“There is unanimity across the Government in that it wants high inflation to be temporary, and I think there is understanding that that is essential for the very people who are feeling most angry about their situation”, he added.

Postal workers at Royal Mail have begun a wave of strikes in the run-up to Christmas that will impact services across the UK.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) have called on their members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to strike on 9 December, 11 December, 14 December and 15 December.

The walkouts involve 115,000 workers and are taking place due to a bitter dispute over pay and conditions. The union has said its members want a pay rise that matches the soaring cost of living.

Thousands of Royal Mail workers have gathered outside Parliament in central London to mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

Many among the animated crowd are wearing pink hi-vis vests, waving flags and holding placards that read “strike to win” and “save our Royal Mail“.

The air is filled with loud music, whistles and colourful flares.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) was expecting more than 15,000 members to attend the rally, describing it as the biggest postal workers’ demonstration in living memory.

Striking mail workers and supporters attend rally in Parliament Square, London in fight for better pay and conditions.

A demonstrator dresses as Postman Pat as striking mail workers and supporters march to Parliament Square on December 9, 2022 in London, England. Royal Mail workers are staging strikes throughout December in an escalating row over pay, jobs and conditions.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) hold a rally in Parliament Square, London, as Royal Mail workers mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

Dave Ward (centre), general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), joins members holding a coffin with the words “RIP Postman Pat” as they gather for a rally in Parliament Square, London, as Royal Mail workers mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.