Royal Mail staff to stage four-day strike action

“The numbers will be published of course next Wednesday, but as you saw at the budget last year, we are increasing public spending, and we’ve increased it quite a lot. PIP is paid to over 3.6 million people with long-term physical or mental health conditions, and is split into two strands, a daily living element and a mobility element. Lammy announced a package of measures intended to open up diplomatic expertise to businesses as the UK seeks growth in key markets while also increasing the economic focus of British embassies and high commissions. A Unite spokesperson, describing the accident, said it happened when picketing workers ‘walked towards the car’ at around 10.40am last Thursday as it was leaving the depot, causing the driver to ‘swerve’ round them. This also leads to reduced stock loss and higher staff retention, which in turn, minimises recruitment and training costs, not to mention disruption to established teams. We support any government legislation that will help end exploitative working practices and improve the lives of working people.

He said that Badenoch got a “rapturous reception” by Conservative activists at the local election launch today and she is doing a “great job”. The couple were arrested by the Taliban alongside an American friend, Faye Hall, who had rented a plane to travel with them, and a translator from the couple’s Rebuild training business. But with the expectation that interest rates will soon go down, those who want to lock in a good deal may want to look at doing so soon. One of the most positive outcomes from higher interest rates is higher savings rates. If rates stay higher for longer, it decreases the chance of these deals being reduced in price. Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict interest rates will fall to 3.5 per cent by the end of this year, while Goldman Sachs says interest rates will reach 3.25 per cent by June next year.

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  • Reducing payments to low-income families could have a ripple effect on local economies, particularly in regions where reliance on state support is high.
  • “The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s leadership is simple – there will be serious disruption until you get real on pay,” he added.
  • Some 115,000 Royal Mail workers are set to strike on four days in August and September in a dispute over pay.
  • Meanwhile the number of new disability benefit awards made to under-40s has grown by 150 per cent and 37 per cent of new claims are now primarily for mental health conditions, up from 28 per cent before the pandemic.
  • Elsewhere, protesters disrupted proceedings in the House of Lords today, demanding the abolition of the unelected chamber.
  • The CWU said plans include delaying the arrival of post to members of the public by three hours, cuts in workers’ sick pay and inferior terms for new employees.

Many of these measures reflect what successful, responsible and forward-looking employers are already doing. Employers will be relieved to see some amendments, at what is clearly a milestone moment for Government. It has consulted business – and this is reflected in some of the decisions on the future shape of the legislation. Past Governments’ low growth and low productivity economy simply did not deliver what the UK needs, which is why we are choosing stability, investment and reform, not chaos, austerity and decline.

The consensus on the economic impacts of labour laws is that, far from being harmful to growth, they contribute positively to productivity. Labour laws also help ensure that growth is more inclusive and that gains are distributed more widely across society. The Employment Rights Bill represents a significant step forward in improving conditions for the UK’s workforce.

Employment Rights Bill to boost productivity for British workers and grow the economy

It happened as Andy Vaughan, the council’s interim director of street scene – in direct charge of bin depots – was driving out of the depot and encountered striking workers on the picket line who ‘walked towards him’. At Richer Sounds, we have always put the treatment and wellbeing of our colleagues at the forefront of everything we do. Any responsible business will know that well-treated and well-paid colleagues will be beneficial in numerous ways. A spokesman for Royal Mail said the company had made a “best and final pay offer worth up to 9% over 18 months”. Some parcel companies claim the walkouts are having a knock-on effect, and forcing them to delay next-day deliveries as people and firms seek alternative ways to send their post.

When could Royal mail workers go on strike? 2,400 managers set to walk out

The Fair Work Agency will take strong action against rogue employers that exploit their workers, and it will provide better support to the majority of businesses who want to do right by their staff. Many businesses already have worker friendly practices in place and can attest to the positive impact they have on retention, productivity and job satisfaction. We want to go further world’s largest stock exchanges and untap the UK’s full potential by attracting the best talent and giving business the confidence to hire to help the economy grow. The Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards and create opportunities for people across the country.

Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights, complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition. Then €69 per month.Complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. On 24 November, Royal Mail said it had made its “best and final offer”, and accused the union of “holding Christmas to ransom”. Royal Mail is moving from its traditional business of delivering letters – which is no longer profitable – to the fast-growing world of parcel deliveries, driven by the increasing popularity of online shopping. However, it will deliver as many parcels and Special Delivery letters as possible. He said employers should try and maintain direct communication with their employees.

“It could have a huge impact on our business especially at this time of year. Much of what we sell is gifts and obviously Christmas is a key gifting period for everybody.” Julie Macken, co-founder of natural skincare firm Neve’s Bees, told the BBC the prospects of more strike action “makes me really scared actually”. During the first half of its financial year, Royal Mail said strike action cost the business £70m, leading to an operating loss of £219m compared to a £235m profit last year. “The CWU’s decision to choose damaging strike action over resolution regrettably increases the risk of further headcount reductions.” The company welcomed the cancellation of the planned February strike, intending “to use this time and space for further discussions to try to agree a deal”.

Nathan Clements, chief people officer at food service company SSP Group, said the dispute served as a reminder of the importance of communication. “We committed to protecting pay for all managers who stay with Royal Mail, and the vast majority have seen an increase in their earnings. Mr Eatwell claims Royal Mail was looking to cut 700 jobs on top of 1,200 slashed last year, with managers who remain facing cuts to salaries of up to £7,000. Mike Eatwell, Unite national officer with responsibility for Royal Mail, said members have been “forced to the position of taking industrial action because those running Royal Mail refuse to see sense”. Around a million people are expected to lose their disability benefits as part of the welfare overhaul, experts believe. And Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show 2.8 million people were out of work and classed as long-term sick – one of the highest rates of any G7 country.

Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay

  • Industrial action will threaten the job security of postal workers, said Royal Mail, calling on the leaders of CWU to cancel the walk-out and accept invitations for talks.
  • Several professions have gone on strike in the past year, including teachers, junior doctors, rail workers, nurses, passport office staff and civil servants.
  • General Secretary Dave Ward said workers faced the “biggest ever assault” on jobs, terms and conditions “in the history of Royal Mail”.

For too long millions of workers have Defi stocks been forced to face insecure, low paid and irregular work, while our economy is blighted by low growth and low productivity. Network Rail wants to cut 1,900 jobs as part of changes to the way its maintenance teams work – although it insists most of this could be achieved by people leaving voluntarily. And on Friday, rail workers, buses, baggage handlers, highway workers and driving examiners will walk out. “It’s meant we’ve had to staff up to protect our customers,” she told the BBC, with three times as many requests for advice on delivery windows from shoppers than usual. Postal worker walkouts coincide with the busiest time of year for Royal Mail when people and businesses are sending Christmas cards and presents. “We committed to protecting pay for all managers who stay with Royal Mail, and the vast majority have seen an increase in their earnings.

What does Unite say?

It said plans by the postal service include cutting workers’ sick pay, delaying arrival of post by three hours and inferior terms for new employees. When Unite members voted for industrial action at the end of last month, a Royal Mail spokesperson said the postal service has “contigency plans in place to keep letters and parcels moving in the event of a strike”. The planned 19 days of industrial action include Black Friday week and Cyber Monday, as well as 13, 20, and 25 October, and 28 November. Letters will not be delivered and some parcels will be delayed, the Royal Mail has warned. Firms have warned of the hit to Christmas sales as postal workers squeezed by rising costs fight for higher pay and better conditions.

The Government is not “blindly cutting spending” and it is inaccurate to accuse it of heading towards austerity, a Treasury minister has said. The committee said just2trade review there were risks to the economic outlook for several countries, including the UK, and uncertainty about how the policy changes could affect inflation. Higher inflation will largely be driven by things like energy prices and water bills, which are due to rise from April, and increased bus fares. Some food prices have been rising more quickly as well, such as chocolate and coffee.

Royal Mail postal workers vote to strike

As a Crossref Sponsored Member we are able to connect your content with a global network of online scholarly research, currently over 20,000 other organizational members from 160 countries. Crossref drive metadata exchange and support nearly 2 billion monthly API queries, facilitating global research communication. Picket lines have been mounted outside Royal Mail offices on the sixth day of action in recent months. Union Unison says Gloucestershire’s NHS trust has had “more than a year” to solve the pay dispute.

The government must continue its positive approach to engagement with firms and remain open to changes. Doing so will ensure this legislation is proportionate, affordable, and right for both firms and their employees. These amendments demonstrate the Government’s commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure the plan to Make Work Pay is firmly pro-business and pro-worker. The average pay rise for workers in the private sector was 6.9% between August and October.