Royal Mail facing threat of strike action as union vows to fight for workers' job security

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Communication Workers Union demands postal giant bosses begin talks to address widespread concerns of workers

ROYAL Mail faces a deadline of August to begin to tackle worker unease or risk the threat of strike action.

The privatised postal giant is already at loggerheads with unions over plans to close its final salary pension scheme.

But the row is in danger of escalating amid claims that Royal Mail’s management are ignoring wider concerns.

At the heart of the issue are what the Communication Workers Union calls its “four pillars of security.”

Along with the pension dispute, they include reviewing an agreement put in place when Royal Mail was privatised that rules out things like zero hours contracts and selling parts of the business.

Other areas cover talks on a possible phased reduction on the average working week given the increasingly use of technology.

The CWU says it began discussions with Royal Mail about the four areas last year but is disappointed by the firm’s response.

Terry Pullinger, the CWU’s deputy general secretary for postal, said it was heading for a “philosophical crossroads”.

He added: “We are heading for conflict.

“If we haven’t made significant progress by August we would have to consider where we are.

“If we are still miles apart we would have to move towards industrial action.

“This is connected to the growing insecurity in the world of work.”

Royal Mail wants to close its defined salary pension scheme to new accruals, arguing a surplus will run out next year and the £400million a year it’s paying in would need to soar to £1billion.

The CWU has put forward alternative proposals