Royal Mail workers set to strike
In a landmark vote, the first major one to take place since the Trade Union Act came into force in March – requiring more than 50% of eligible union members to vote in a ballot – 73.7% of the Communication Workers Union’s (CWU) 110,000 Royal Mail workers turned out to vote, with 89% (72,872) backing a walkout and 8,954 voting against. In a CWU press conference yesterday (3 October) in Manchester, general secretary Dave Ward said the result was demonstrative that Royal Mail’s leadership, board and senior management are “completely out of touch with the workforce”. “We say to Royal Mail these negotiations that subsequently led us to this point of balloting have been going on for 18 months and unless you shift your position sufficiently and very quickly then industrial action is inevitable. Click Read More below for more of the story.