June 06 2007

Summer strikes for Royal Mail?

Plans for a shake up at the Royal Mail to modernise the postal service could result in major strike action this summer. The Communication Workers Union will announce the result of a ballot of 127,000 postal workers on Thursday. The result is expected to be a vote in favour of national industrial action - the first for 11 years.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that secret contingency plans include 6,000 senior managers 'returning to the shop floor' to deliver the post. A source close to Royal Mail told the newspaper: "The company will use every resource in our power to keep the service going".

A statement from Chairman Allan Leighton on the Royal Mail site says: "Clearly we don't want a strike. We will do everything we can to minimise any problems a strike will cause. But we can't turn back the tide of competition and we must move ahead with the modernisation of the business. This is the only way to protect the long-term future of the Royal Mail, on which we know our customers depend."

The Union has to give Royal Mail one week before industrial action is taken.

Emma Herrod