Over 100,000 Royal Mail workers to vote on strike action

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has announced that more than 100,000 Royal Mail workers are set to vote on strike action, according to media reports. The workers are reported to be balloted for strikes over issues including job security and terms and conditions of employment. "The national industrial action ballot for all of Royal Mail Group goes out on 17th September, opens on 24th September," the Union's northeast division said in a tweet.

The Union said the business is not working within the spirit and intent of our National Agreements. It accused the company of following its own agenda that will have long-term detrimental effects on the workers' terms and conditions of employment, job security, and the future of RMG as a whole.

Workers' representatives and the company are reported to be at loggerheads over a range of issues. These include working hours, the use of technology to monitor efficiency and its parcel sorting systems.

The Communication Workers Union deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger said in a Facebook post, "There is no doubt the new Royal Mail Group leaders have lost the trust and confidence of their employees and our members. What were the board thinking appointing such incompetent under-qualified people and untrusting the Great British Postal Service and our members' futures to a CEO who does not even live in this country."

"We will stand up, fight and protect our members, the equal connectivity of all the people of Great Britain and this wonderful Postal Service from those who place personal greed and profit above public service," he further added.