News

Members of the Communication Workers Union in UK Crown Post Offices are on strike Monday protesting plans to eliminate or franchise nearly 20% of the remaining Crown Post Offices. The strikes follow two previous walk-outs in the last month in opposition the Post Office plans. CWU say the cuts would affect over 800 jobs and that management has refused to negotiate over protections for the affected workers or the eliminated services.

CWU officials say Post Office management has refused to negotiate over the issues and that they are pushing cuts to meet government targets. Andy Furey, CWU officer for post office members noted in a statement, "The Post Office has admitted that it's got its sums wrong on the cost of our pay claim. They embellished the figure by over £6 million - effectively doubling the cost of what we've asked for...We can help the Post Office find a positive way forward for the network, but they must be prepared to listen to the concerns of their staff who voted by nine to one to back strike action. Without negotiation this dispute will continue. "



The pay dispute arose out of a pay rise which was due in April 2012 but remains outstanding. Other workers in Post Office operations received pay rises of 3.5% and 3.25% in the past two years, but Crown counter staff have yet to get their raise.