UK. Royal Mail staff vote to strike over pensions
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said 73.7% of its 110,000 members cast their votes, with 89% backing a strike. It is the first major vote since the introduction of the Trade Union Act, which requires strike votes to have a 50% turnout. The CWU said the postal executive will meet later this week to determine any potential strike dates.
Earlier this year, the Royal Mail announced that it would close its current defined benefit scheme in March 2018.
Although the pension fund is currently in surplus, Royal Mail, which was privatised in 2013, claims that its current annual contribution of £400m a year would swell to £1.26bn.
The CWU said that the vote was “was sparked by the company’s attack on the pension rights of hard-working postmen and women and the refusal of the employer to engage seriously over pay, working hours, future job security and the need to improve and grow the service to the public”.
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