Royal Mail staff in strike action
The ongoing battle between the unions and Royal Mail management hit a new low today, with the announcement of strike action between 17 August and 24 August. Strike action has already begun in Coventry, London, Leamington Spa, Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent with many more offices across the UK set to join. Despite reaching a tentative agreement only a few months ago there are claims that the Royal Mail management have instigated various modernisation changes and job cuts without consulting the unions.
As ever the management of Royal Mail claim that the unions are standing in the way of modernisation and putting at risk potentially tens of thousands of jobs. While there's no doubt that the UK government is trimming down the cost base of Royal Mail ahead of a sale in due course, there is also no doubt that the unions are determined to save as many jobs as possible. Lord Mandelson has already been beaten once regarding his plans to sell off part of Royal Mail to an overseas investor and the unions are determined to break him again.
There are fears as we approach Christmas that more strike action could be announced across the UK economy as the threat of cost cuts and job reductions continues.
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