Royal Mail response to ballot results as inflation hits a 40 year high

Royal Mail response

Message from Ricky McAulay – CWU Announces Ballot Result

Today the CWU informed us of the result of their ballot, and we are disappointed the vote was in favour of strike action.

The business is at a crossroads. Now is not the right time for the uncertainty and damage that industrial action would bring. Now is the time to agree on a deal that includes the changes we need to set us up for tomorrow, not just today.

Operations Development Director Ricky McAulay has an important message for colleagues, following the result of the CWU’s ballot:

‘Today the CWU informed us of the result of their ballot, and we are disappointed the vote was in favour of strike action.

We offered a deal worth up to 5.5% for CWU grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years, which the CWU rejected. We can only fund this offer by making the changes that will pay for it and ensure Royal Mail can grow and remain competitive in a fast-moving industry.

Despite nearly three months of talks, the CWU have not engaged in any meaningful discussion on the changes we need to make to adapt. Ensuring we can change, at pace, is the route to protecting well-paid, permanent, jobs long term and retain our place as the industry leader on pay and terms and conditions.

That is in the interest of Royal Mail and all its employees.

We have asked CWU for further talks, and are hopeful that continuing our talks on change will lead to an agreement that avoids detrimental industrial action.

Industrial action on this scale will be incredibly damaging for Royal Mail.

The business is at a crossroads. We are operating in a challenging business environment with high inflation, supply chain disruption and changing customer preferences. We have to change, and change now.

Now is not the right time for the uncertainty industrial action will bring. Now is the time to agree on a deal that includes the changes we need to set us up for tomorrow, not just today.

We remain committed to working with the CWU to grow this great business and ensure long term job security for us all.’