Royal Mail strike threat over pay means millions could miss deliveries across UK

Millions of households across the UK could miss out on deliveries when Royal Mail managers have their say in a strike ballot from 4 April. The vote comes amid a row over pay between bosses of the privately owned firm and 4,900 union members, who are represented by Unite.

The managers will be asked to vote on taking strike action and/or industrial action short of a strike. The ballot, which will close on 21 April, comes after Unite rejected a "paltry" 1.3% salary offer from Royal Mail for the year starting September 2015.

"Our members are disgusted and upset by the abject failure of Royal Mail to take the issue of pay seriously. It is adopting a high-handed attitude," said Brian Scott, a Unite officer for Royal Mail managers.

"The company's final pay offer has already been rejected by 95% of Unite members, but the management remains unwilling to sit down and find a way through this difficulty.

"The dispute is about the 1.3% pay offer for some employees, with a non-consolidated lump sum for others. There has been no increase in overtime or allowances. But there are a number of other serious factors that are of great concern to Unite members."

The union has also called for talks with Royal Mail bosses at mitigation service Acas. Scott added: "If bosses don't get around the table and industrial action goes ahead, it will hit the delivery of mail and parcels

"Unite members are fed up being pushed around by an arrogant employer and being taken for granted. They are saying: 'Enough is enough.'"

A Royal Mail spokesman told IBTimes UK that the company was dissapointed Unite had decided to ballot its members. "However, a ballot for industrial action does not mean that any action will take place," the spokesman added.

"Royal Mail has engaged Unite in serious discussion around its pay claim from September 2015. We maintain that we have put forward a fair and competitive offer, which recognises the efforts of our managers and compares well with current inflation levels. We want to reach agreement so that our managers receive their pay award as quickly as possible"