Staff at Wales’s biggest post offices to strike next month in pay dispute

Staff at some of Wales’s biggest post offices are to stage a fresh one-day strike in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at more than 100 Crown Post Offices across the UK – the larger branches often sited on high streets – will walk out on July 11.

The Crown Post Offices will close for one day, as workers strike against a massive real-terms pay cut.

The union said its members had rejected a pay offer it said was worth 3% with effect from April and a £500 lump sum, which the CWU said was well below inflation.

It will be the third national strike by Post Office workers this year.

‘Callous decisions’

CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: “No worker wants to be in this situation, but Post Office bosses can’t be surprised that callous decisions are challenged by our members.

“This dispute is about dignity and respect for hard-working employees – essential public servants who, as key workers, provided unprecedented customer service during the pandemic.

“Our members feel betrayed and will not tolerate their living standards being smashed by people in charge of a public service that due to our members’ efforts made tens of millions of pounds in annual profits.

“There is more than enough money for a reasonable pay rise – implementing this pay cut is a management choice, not a necessity.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “We want to assure our customers that the vast majority of our 11,500 branches are unaffected by the CWU decision to strike on July 11 and will be open throughout the day.

“There are 114 branches, typically in city centres, that are directly managed by Post Office and on previous strike days over a third have opened as usual.

“We’re disappointed that the CWU have made the decision to strike but remain hopeful that we can reach a pay agreement soon.”